Vs. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
BUREAU OP PLANT INDUSTRY— BULLETIN NO. 187. 

B. T. GALLOWAY, Chief of Bureau. 



A STUDY OF CULTIVATION METHODS AND 
CROP ROTATIONS FOR THE 
GREAT PLAINS AREA. 



E. C. CHILCOTT, 

Agriculturist in Charge, Assisted by Members of the 
Field Staff of the Office of Dry-Land 
Agriculture Investigations. 



Issued November 5, 1910. 




WASHINGTON: 
government printing Office. 
1910. 



Glass 
Book 



Bui. 187, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



Plate I. 




U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY — BULLETIN NO. 187. 

B T. GALLOWAY, Chief of Bureau. 



A STUDY OF CULTIVATION METHODS AND 
CROP ROTATIONS FOR THE 
GREAT PLAINS AREA. 




E < C: CHILCOTT, 

Agriculturist in Charge, Assisted by Members of the 
Field Staff of the Office of Dry-Land 
Agriculture Investigations. 



Issued November 5, 1910. 




WASHINGTON: 
government printing office. 



BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 



Chief of Bureau, Beverly T. Galloway. 
Assistant Chief of Bureau, G. Harold Powell. 
Editor, J. E. Rockwell. 
Chief Clerk, James E. Jones. 



Dry-Land Agriculture Investigations. 

scientific staff. 

E. C. Chilcott, Agriculturist in Charge. 
J. S. Cole and Fritz Knorr, Experts. 
J. M. Stephens, Special Agent. 

W. W. Burr, E. F. Chilcott, O. J. Grace, A. L. Hallsted, F. L. Kennard, Clarence Plath, H. R. Reed, and 
John Thysel, Assistants. 
187 
2 



D. OF D. 

MOV 23 1910 




LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

Bureau of Plant Industry, 

Office of the Chief, 
Washington, D. C, June 11, 1910. 
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a paper entitled "A 
Study of Cultivation Methods and Crop Rotations for the Great 
Plains Area," by Prof. E. C. Chilcott, Agriculturist in Charge of Dry- 
Land Agriculture Investigations, assisted by the members of his field 
staff. These men have not only attended to the details of the field 
experiments and prepared the notes for the permanent records, but 
they have also assisted in the preparation of these data for publication. 

The paper embodies the results of four years' experiments in crop 
rotation and cultivation methods conducted at eleven stations in the 
Great Plains area. These investigations are of such a nature as to 
require a long term of years before final conclusions can be reached. 
It is believed, however, that in view of the urgent demand for infor- 
mation concerning these problems which is constantly being made 
upon this Bureau, these results and tentative conclusions and sugges- 
tions should be made public at this time. 

I recommend that this paper be published as Bulletin No. 187 of the 
special series of this Bureau. 

Respectfully, G. H. Powell, 

Acting Chief of Bureau . 

Hon. James Wilson, 

Secretary of Agriculture. 

187 3 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 



Introduction 7 

Questions asked 7 

Answers obtained 8 

The sufficiency of the data submitted 12 

Continuous cropping compared with alternate cropping and summer tillage 14 

General statement 14 

Conclusions concerning summer tillage and continuous cropping 18 

Crop rotation compared with continuous cropping 20 

Outline of the three-year rotations 20 

Explanatory notes 23 

A common basis of comparison 24 

Comparison of the relative farm value of crops of wheat, oats, and barley pro- 
duced by each of the nine rotations and by continuous cropping 41 

The tabular summary 41 

Disked corn stubble better than summer tillage for spring wheat and oats. . 45 
Disking corn stubble gives better results than plowing for spring wheat 

which is to follow 49 

The relative merits of fall and spring plowing depend upon local conditions 

of soil and climate 50 

The relation of wheat and oats to summer tillage in a three-year rotation. . 51 
Wheat, oats, corn a better sequence on spring plowing than oats, wheat, 

corn at most stations 52 

Rotations for the conservation of organic matter in the soil 55 

Five-year rotation (No. 1) 57 

Six-year rotation (No. 2) 61 

Four-year rotation (No. 3) 62 

Four-year rotation (No. 4) 63 

Four-year rotation (No. 5) 64 

The principles of crop rotation 65 

Factors involved 65 

Rules to be observed in planning rotations 67 

Conclusions from experiments 67 

Precipitation records 72 

Index 75 

187 5 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



PLATE. 

Page. 

Plate I. A typical view of experimental field plats Frontispiece. 

TEXT FIGURE. 

Fig. 1. Map of the Great Plains area, showing the location of the experiment 

stations and the annual and seasonal rainfall 1] 

187 
6 



B. P. I.— 585. 



A STUDY OF CULTIVATION METHODS AND CROP 
ROTATIONS FOR THE GREAT PLAINS AREA. 



INTRODUCTION. 

The Office of Dry-Land Agriculture Investigations of the Bureau 
of Plant Industry has been carrying on investigations in dry-land 
agriculture in the Great Plains area since the spring of 1906. A 
large amount of data has accumulated. Urgent demands are being 
made by settlers, actual and prospective, for information concerning 
the best methods of farming in the Great Plains. It therefore seems 
desirable at this time to give publicity to such of these facts and figures 
as have a direct bearing upon this subject. It is not claimed that 
sufficient data have yet been accumulated to form the basis for final 
conclusions. It is believed, however, that these results are of suffi- 
cient importance to deserve careful consideration and that they 
throw some strong light upon the much controverted questions of 
summer tillage, continuous cropping, and crop rotation. It is hoped 
that the tentative conclusions drawn and the suggestions made may 
be useful. 

QUESTIONS ASKED. 

These investigations were undertaken to answer the following main 
questions, besides many subsidiary ones : 

(1) How can the largest average yields of four staple crops — corn, spring wheat, 
oats, and barley — through a long series of years be obtained: (a) By raising the same 
crop continuously by ordinary methods of culture now in practice; (6) by continuous 
cropping with the same crop, using the most approved methods of cultivation for 
moisture conservation; or (c) by alternate cropping and summer tillage by the most 
approved methods? 

(2) Do moisture conservation methods pay where continuous cropping to the same 
crop is practiced? 

(3) Do alternate cropping and summer tillage pay where the same crop is raised 
each alternate year? 

(4) How do simple 3-year crop rotations compare with continuous cropping, both 
with, and without conservation methods, and with alternate cropping and summer 
tillage in the profitable production of crops? 

(5) What 3-year rotation has given the best results? 

(6) Which gives the best results, fall plowing or spring plowing? 

187 7 



8 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOE GREAT PLAINS. 



(7) Should corn stubble be plowed or disked without plowing as a preparation for 
spring wheat? 

(8) Can summer tillage be profitably introduced into a rotation system? 

(9) Can any system of crop rotation be devised, involving the use of perennial 
grasses or legumes, or biennial legumes, which will be adapted to conditions in the 
Great Plains area? 

(10) Can green manuring be profitably substituted for summer tillage, thereby con- 
serving both the moisture and the organic matter of the soil? 

(11) What is the best method of introducing winter wheat into a rotation? 

ANSWERS OBTAINED. 

The following tentative answers have been obtained from the 
investigations. They are likely to be modified by future results. 
They are, however, based upon the best evidence obtainable in the 
present state of our knowledge: 

(1) The average yields in bushels per acre from the three methods of tillage have 
been as follows: 



Average production per acre of wheat, oats, and barley. 



Methods of tillage. 


Wheat, 


Oats. 


Barley. 


Continuous cropping, ordinary methods 


17.4 


30.2 


21.1 


Continuous cropping, moisture conservation 


16.5 


30.5 


22.9 


Alternate cropping and summer tillage 


22.5 


44.1 


30.7 



(See Tables I, II, and III, pp. 16 and 17.) 

(2) The average results of moisture conservation methods have not proved profitable 
as compared with ordinary methods where continuous cropping has been practiced. 
(See paragraph 2 of Conclusions, p. 68.) 

(3) The average results of alternate cropping and summer tillage have not proved 
profitable, as compared with continuous cropping with ordinary methods. (See 
paragraph 1 of Conclusions, p. 67.) 

(4) Simple 3-year rotations of corn, wheat, and oats, or corn, barley, and oats have 
proved more profitable than continuous cropping or alternate cropping with any one 
of these four crops. (See paragraph 3 of Conclusions, p. 68.) 

(5) Corn on either fall or spring plowing, followed by either wheat or barley on disked 
corn stubble, followed by oats on early fall plowing has given best average results. 
(See paragraph 4 of Conclusions, p. 68.) 

(6) Fall plowing has given slightly better average results than spring plowing. 
(See paragraph 11 of Conclusions, p. 69.) 

(7) Disking corn stubble, without plowing, has given better results than plowing 
as a preparation for spring wheat. (See paragraph 10 of Conclusions, p. 69.) 

(8) Summer tillage has not given as good average results when used in a rotation as 
a preparation for spring wheat or oats as has a properly cultivated corn crop. It seems 
probable that it will be found advisable to occasionally introduce summer tillage 
into a rotation as a preparation for winter wheat. (See paragraph 9 of Conclusions, 
p. 68.) 

(9) The evidence so far obtained leads to the conclusion that a 5 or 6 year rotation 
of corn, winter or spring wheat, brome-grass (three years), oats, barley, emmer, or 

187 



ANSWERS OBTAINED. 



9 



wheat will give better average results than any other system so far tried. There are, 
however, undoubtedly many localities where the growing of perennial grasses is so 
uncertain as to make the adoption of this rotation inadvisable. It is possible that it 
may be found practicable to substitute alfalfa for brome-grass in some localities. 
Some other perennial grass or legume may be found that will prove adapted to the 
conditions in some parts of the Great Plains. In some localities it may be found 
practicable to shorten the rotation to four years and substitute red clover for the 
brome-grass. (See paragraphs 14, 15, and 16 of Conclusions, p. 70.) 

(10) Where perennial grass or legumes can not be successfully grown, it will 
undoubtedly be found profitable to resort to green manuring. Winter rye has so far 
given the best results. Canada field peas and common sweet clover (Melilotus alba) 
have also given good results, but the fact that they do not reach a sufficient stage of 
growth to plow under before the end of the June rains is against them. On the other 
hand, being nitrogen gatherers they will undoubtedly produce a higher quality of 
organic matter in the soil than rye, although the quantity may be less. (See paragraph 
18 of Conclusions, p. 70.) 

(11) Winter wheat should be grown to a greater or less extent wherever it is found 
possible to do so, as it possesses some great advantages over spring wheat. It can be 
fitted into any rotation adapted to the Great Plains. In some localities it may prove 
profitable to summer till the land as a preparation for winter wheat, as it undoubtedly 
responds to this preparation to a much greater extent than do spring-sown grains. 
Green manuring may, however, be used instead of summer tillage. (See paragraph 
10 of Conclusions, p. 69.) 

As will be seen from the foregoing answers, our investigations lead 
strongly to the conclusion that the devising of systems of rotation 
adapted to local conditions is of greater importance than tillage 
methods. It is not to be inferred, however, that the subject of proper 
tillage can be safely neglected. Such is far from being the case. 
Tillage methods must be carefully studied and intelligently practiced. 
But both the study and the practice must be carried on in connec- 
tion with crop rotation and with a view to bringing about the best 
possible physical and biological condition of the soil. In order to 
do this intelligently, the requirements of the crops to be grown, the 
local peculiarities of the soil, and the climate must be the main 
factors considered. No hard and fast rules can be established. Each 
farmer must study his soil, his climate, and his crop requirements, 
and must adopt such systems of tillage as experience and observation 
have shown to bring the desired results under the peculiar combina- 
tions of conditions which prevail at the time and place and are most 
likely to exist during the growing period of the crop. Nor should 
the ultimate effect upon the soil of any system of tillage be neglected. 
Favorable physical, chemical, and biological conditions of the soil 
should at least be maintained and, if possible, improved from year 
to year. 

The establishment of a system of crop rotations presents many 
difficulties, particularly in a new country. Among these difficulties 
is the need of immediate cash returns from the crops grown. Wheat 
is not only the most staple cash crop, but on the basis of the prices 

187 



10 CULTIVATION METHODS AND EOTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 

which have prevailed for the last ten years and the average yields 
obtained in. the Great Plains it has also been the most profitable 
when immediate cash returns alone have been considered. This has 
been a strong incentive to adopting a one-crop system of wheat grown 
continuously on the same land, year after year, with sometimes an 
occasional summer fallow to clean the land of weeds. 

It must be admitted that this system has often brought in larger 
immediate cash returns than could be obtained from a simple diversi- 
fication of crops. Mere diversification without any systematic rota- 
tion often means simply devoting a portion of the farm to the growing 
of some less profitable crop in the place of wheat. There is an advan- 
tage in growing several different kinds of crops, all of which are not as 
likely to suffer loss from either poor yields or low prices as would a 
single crop of any one kind. Such a system can not, however, be 
defended unless these substituted crops can be fed or otherwise 
disposed of in such a way as to bring more than the relative market 
prices, as compared with wheat, which have prevailed in the Great 
Plains for the last ten years. But our investigations have shown 
that with a properly planned rotation of corn, wheat, oats, and barley 
the average farm value per acre for all the crops will be greater than 
that obtained from growing wheat continuously. Such a system 
must, of course, involve proper methods of soil preparation, as well 
as rotation of crops. If in addition to the increased yields obtainable 
under a rotation system the coarse grains can be fed on the farm, the 
net profits from this system will be further increased. If by returning 
the manure produced from the coarse grain, fodder, and hay crops to 
the land the soil can be maintained in better chemical, physical, 
and biological condition, it will not only further increase the yields 
in favorable years, but will also decrease the danger from drought 
in unfavorable ones. Nor is this all the advantage to be gained from 
crop rotation and its concomitant feature of stock raising. Under 
such a system the labor of the farm is more evenly distributed through- 
out the year, thus requiring less expense for extra laborers at harvest 
time and better utilization of teams and tools. And last, and per- 
haps most important of all, is the fact that a farm operated on such 
a system affords greater incentives and opportunities for true home 
building. It is believed that all of these desirable objects can be 
attained by adopting systems of rotation adapted to local conditions. 
It can, therefore, be stated with a reasonable degree of certainty that 
crop rotation is the major factor in the great problem of dry-land 
agriculture in the Great Plains area, with cultivation methods as an 
important minor factor. 

These investigations have been carried on at Judith Basin, Mont.; 
Dickinson and Edgeley, N. Dak.; Highmore and Belief ourche, S. 

187 



ANSWERS OBTAINED. 



11 



Dak.; North Platte, Nebr. ; Akron, Colo.; Hays and Garden City, 
Kans.; Amarillo and Dalhart, Tex. The locations of these stations 
are shown on the accompanying map, figure 1. Results have been 
obtained for three years from Edgeley and North Platte; for two 
years from Amarillo, Highmore, and Dickinson; and for one year 



n3- up 109- 107° jos^ ior \or 99j 97* 95 * 




Fig. 1.— Map of the Great Plains area, showing the location of the experiment 
stations and the annual and seasonal rainfall. 



each from the remaining stations. They show, therefore, the results 
of eighteen comparative tests, involving more than a thousand plats 
located at eleven stations widely distributed throughout the Great 
Plains area, and should be fairly representative of the area. 

187 



12 CULTIVATION METHODS AND KOTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 

The view of field plats at the substation at Edgeley, N. Dak. (see 
frontispiece) , where these investigations are carried on in cooperation 
with the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, is typical of 
all the field stations. From 120 to 150 one-tenth acre plats are used 
at each station. These plats are accurately and permanently laid out 
and marked and great care is exercised to obtain exact yields, com- 
parable to common field conditions. 

It would be practically impossible to carry on these investigations 
without the hearty cooperation of the state experiment stations of 
Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas. 

The Physical Laboratory and the Offices of Western Agricultural 
Extension, Alkali and Drought Resistant Plant-Breeding Investiga- 
tions, Grain Investigations, Forage-Crop Investigations, and Soil- 
Bacteriology Investigations, all of the Bureau of Plant Industry, have 
cooperated and rendered valuable assistance along their respective 
lines. None of the results of their investigations have, however, been 
incorporated in this publication. The interrelation of these several 
lines of investigations with those of dry-land agriculture will be 
discussed in future publications. 

THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE DATA SUBMITTED. 

As the general plans of the investigations in dry-land agriculture, 
of which those herein described are a part, have been fully set forth 
in a previous publication, no detailed description will here be 
attempted. Suffice it to say that a member of the scientific staff of 
this office is in constant attendance at each of the several stations 
mentioned, during the entire growing and harvesting season. He 
attends personally to all the field operations, the measuring and 
weighing of products, etc., and keeps accurate notes of the work. b 
The work is in close cooperation with the Physical Laboratory of this 

a Yearbook of the Department of Agriculture for 1907, pp. 451-468. 
b The field work at the several stations is under the immediate supervision, respec- 
tively, of the following-named members of the scientific staff of this office: 
John S. Cole, Traveling Field Assistant. 
J. E. Payne, Superintendent Akron, Colo., station. 
F. L. Kennard, Superintendent Dalhart, Tex., station. 
J. M. Stephens, Superintendent Judith Basin, Mont., station. 
0. J. Grace, Acting Superintendent Dickinson, N. Dak., station. 
W. W. Burr, detailed to North Platte, Nebr., station. 
E. F. Chilcott, detailed to Amarillo, Tex., station. 
A. L. Hallsted, detailed to Hays, Kans., station. 
H. R. Reed, detailed to Garden City, Kans., station. 

0. R. Mathews, detailed from the Office of Western Agricultural Extension, Bureau 
of Plant Industry, to Bellefourche, S. Dak., station. 
C. H. Plath, detailed to Edgeley, N. Dak., station. 
J. C. Thysell, detailed to Dickinson, N. Dak., station. 

W. O. Whitcomb, detailed from the Office of Western Agricultural Extension, Bu- 
reau of Plant Industry, to Williston, N. Dak., station, 
187 



SUFFICIENCY OF DATA SUBMITTED. 



13 



Bureau, which keeps a record of the physical and meteorological 
conditions at each station. Several other offices of this Bureau are 
also in cooperation at most of the stations. The Agriculturist in 
Charge of Dry-Land Agriculture Investigations and his traveling field 
assistant make frequent visits to the field stations during the growing 
season for the purpose of inspecting the work. Other cooperating 
heads of offices also visit these stations at frequent intervals. 

The work of seven of the eleven stations herein mentioned was con- 
ducted in close cooperation with the state experiment stations of Mon- 
tana, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas, respectively, 
and representatives of these stations are constantly in close touch with 
the field work at their respective localities. Very full permanent 
records of all the work are kept, both at the field stations and at the 
central office at Washington, D. C. Both these records and the field 
work itself are open to the inspection of the public at all times, and such 
inspection is invited. The experiment stations mentioned use these 
records in the preparation of publications of their respective stations. 
With so many trained investigators actively interested in the elimina- 
tion of all sources of error or inaccuracy, it seems reasonable to claim 
that the data herein presented are trustworthy and that, covering as 
they do so extensive an area, they constitute as reliable a basis for 
safe conclusion concerning the methods of dry-land agriculture in the 
Great Plains area as can now be found. It is only by a further 
extension of these investigations that a more reliable basis can be 
established. 

All of the eleven stations from which the data are collected are 
located within what is generally known as the semiarid area. The 
meteorological records and the crop yields under ordinary methods 
indicate, however, that in thirteen seasons out of eighteen the weather 
conditions were sufficiently favorable to give some basis for the 
suspicion that these thirteen experiments were conducted under 
humid rather than semiarid conditions and that they could not 
therefore be used as a safe basis for conclusions relative to semiarid 
conditions. When, however, we consider that the average increase in 
yields from summer tillage as compared with ordinary methods during 
these thirteen seasons is practically identical for oats and barley and 
differs by only 2.2 bushels for wheat from those of the remaining five 
seasons when the drought was severe, the force of this argument is 
considerably weakened. If we also consider that the only instance 
where summer tillage increased the yield sufficiently to make the 
practice profitable was at North Platte in 1908, where conditions 
were very favorable for crop production under ordinary methods, the 
argument against the applicability of these results to semiarid con- 
ditions ceases to have any weight." 



187 



a See Table XXXI for precipitation record. 



14 CULTIVATION METHODS AND KOTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 



CONTINUOUS CROPPING COMPARED WITH ALTERNATE CROPPING 
AND SUMMER TILLAGE. 

GENERAL STATEMENT. 

Before entering into a discussion of the subject of continuous 
cropping compared with alternate cropping and summer tillage, it 
will be well to clearly set forth some important considerations that 
must be constantly borne in mind. They are as follows: 

(1) The discussion applies to the Great Plains area only and can 
have no possible bearing upon practices in regions west of the Rocky 
Mountains, where soil and climatic conditions are radically different. 

(2) These experiments were made with spring-sown grains only and 
have no bearing whatever upon the methods applicable to fall-sown 
grains. 

(3) The object of the work described under this heading is to test 
the relative merits of three systems of one-crop farming, namely, (1) 
ordinary methods; (2) moisture-conservation methods of contin- 
uous cropping; and (3) summer-tillage methods of alternate or bi- 
ennial cropping. This part of the work has nothing whatever to do 
with crop rotation, except possibly to show that no system of one- 
crop farming has yet been devised that can serve as a safe basis for a 
permanent agriculture in the Great Plains area. A discussion of 
crop rotation is given under another heading (p. 20). 

The general plan of that portion of the investigations herein 
described is identical for all of the eleven stations and is as shown 
in the accompanying outline and the explanatory notes following: 

Outline of plan for experiments with three staple cereal crops with ordinary methods of 
culture and with moisture-conservation methods, each crop being grown on the same 
plat for several years either continuously or alternating with summer fallow. 

EXPERIMENTS WITH WHEAT. 

Wheat grown year after year on spring-plowed land by ordinary methods of 
culture. 

Wheat grown year after year on fall-plowed land by moisture-conservation 

methods of culture. 
Wheat alternating with summer tillage. 
Summer tillage alternating with wheat. 

EXPERIMENTS WITH OATS. 

Plat A. Oats grown year after year on spring-plowed land by ordinary methods of 
culture. 

PlatB. Oats grown year after year on fall-plowed land by moisture-conservation 

methods of culture. 
Plat 0. Oats alternating with summer tillage. 
Plat D. Summer tillage alternating with oats. 
187 



CROPPING AND SUMMER TILLAGE. 



15 



EXPERIMENTS WITH BARLEY. 

Plat A. Barley grown year after year on spring-plowed land by ordinary methods of 
culture. 

Plat B. Barley grown year after year on fall-plowed ground by moisture-conservation 

methods of culture. 
Plat C. Barley alternating with summer tillage. 
Plat D. Summer tillage alternating with barley. 

By 11 ordinary methods" is meant plowing to a depth of about 3 
inches in the spring just before seeding, harrowing once, and seeding 
with a drill; no harrowing after seeding; no treatment of stubble 
land after harvest except to cut weeds to keep them from seeding. 

By u conservation methods" is meant plowing to a depth of 8 
inches immediately after harvest, thoroughly harrowing immediately 
after plowing, keeping the soil in the best of tilth and free from weeds 
or surface crust by frequent harrowings or diskings until seeding in 
the spring, thorough harrowing at time of seeding, and light harrow- 
ings at intervals to break crust and destroy weeds until the grain 
reaches a height of about 6 inches. Under certain conditions, thor- 
ough disking immediately after harvest and deferring the plowing 
until the soil is in proper condition has been found to accomplish 
the desired results more effectually than immediate plowing, and in 
some cases this practice has been followed. 

By " alternate summer tillage" is meant treating the soil after 
harvest as described under "conservation methods" until the fol- 
lowing spring. Instead of then seeding it to crop, it is left bare or 
fallow and is kept harrowed, disked, and free from weeds or surface 
crust until midsummer. It is then plowed again and treated the 
same as Group B thereafter, being seeded in like manner the following 
spring, Group D being summer tilled and Group C being cropped 
one year and Group C being summer tilled and Group D being cropped 
the next, and so on indefinitely, alternately cropping and summer 
tilling. 

The same variety and quantity of seed and the same drill are used 
upon all the plats of the same series for all groups at each station. 
It was found impracticable to use the same variety of each of the 
grains at all of the stations, as it has not been found possible to 
obtain any one variety of any of these grains adapted to so wide a 
range of soil and climatic conditions as is found between Montana 
on the north and Texas on the south. The rule has, therefore, been 
to select the variety of each of the grains best adapted to the locality. 
Durum spring wheat has been used at all stations. 

It was not practicable to use the same make of drill at all stations, 
and there were other slight adaptations to local conditions, but the 

52345°— Bui. 187—10 2 



16 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 



methods of seeding were essentially the same for the respective 
groups for all stations. The comparisons having been made between 
groups at each station instead of between stations, the slight differ- 
ences mentioned could in no possible way affect the conclusions. 

The accompanying tables give the yields in bushels per acre for 
each one of the 216 plats. They also give differences in bushels per 
acre between the "A," or continuously cropped ordinary-method 
plats, and "B," or continuously cropped moisture-conservation plats; 
and the or "D," alternately summer-tilled plats, respectively. 

The "A," or continuously cropped ordinary-method yields, are used 
as a basis for all comparison. The three tables represent, respectively, 
the three series — wheat, oats, and barley. The averages at the foot 
of each table are the average yields per acre in bushels and the aver- 
age difference in bushels per acre between the groups for each series, 
respectively, for all of the 18 tests. 

Table I. — Comparison of yields to the acre of wheat series, by groups. 



Station. 



Judith Basin, Mont. . 
Dickinson, N. Dak... 

Do 

Edgeley N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak. . . 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak. 
North Platte, Nebr.. 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans... 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



Year. 



Average. 



1907 
1908 



1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 



Continuous cropping. 



Group A, 
ordinary 
methods. 



Group B, 
conserva- 
tion 
methods. 



Bushe's. 
33.0 
24.3 
26.8 
4.1 
13.3 
28.3 
28.8 
26.3 
23.8 
24.5 
22.7 
23.0 
14.3 
1.2 
2.1 
.0 
17.0 
.0 



17. 49 



Bushels. 
33.4 
17.7 
25.2 

7.0 
15.3 
23.3 
29.7 
19.7 
23.3 
26.0 
27.3 
15.3 
10.3 

4.5 

3.2 
.0 
14.0 

2.8 



16.53 



Alternate 
cropping, 
Group C 
or D, sum- 
mer tillage. 



Bushels. 
34.0 
33.8 
35.7 
9.9 
16.0 
27.0 
30.0 
30 7 
32.2 
31.8 
40.5 
18.0 
18.5 
4.2 
6.7 
10.5 
16.0 
10.5 



22. 55 



Gain (4-) or 
loss (-) by 
conservation 
over ordi- 
nary meth- 
ods, Group B 

compared 
with Group A. 



Bushels. 
+0.4 
-6.6 
-1.6 
+2.9 
+2.0 
-5.0 
+ .9 
-6.6 
- 5 
+1.5 
+4.6 
-7.7 
-4.0 
+3.3 
+1.1 
.0 
-3.0 
+2.8 



-0. 86 



Gain ( + ) or 
loss ( — ) by 
summer til- 
lage over 
ordinary 
methods, 
Group C or D 

compared 
with Group A. 



187 



CHOPPING AND SUMMER TILLAGE. 
Table II. — Comparison of yields to the acre of oats series, by groups. 



17 



Station. 



Judith Basin, Mont. 
Dickinson, N. Dak. . 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak. . . 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak. 
North Platte, Nebr.. 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans. . . 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



Year. 



1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
i 1909 
I 1909 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
19C9 



Average. 



Continuous cropping. 



Group A, 
ordinary 
methods. 



Bushels. 
75.3 
48.4 
55.9 
21.3 
16.9 
57.5 
45.3 
34.4 
48.8 
30.0 
34.4 
31.3 
21.1 
1.3 
1.0 
.0 
20.0 
.0 



Group B, 
conserva- 
tion 
methods. 



30. 1G 



Bushels. 
66.2 
32.8 
58.4 
21.4 
15.3 
46.8 
47.2 
32.2 
46.9 
36.0 
68.5 
24.1 
14.1 
3.7 
3.2 
.0 
32.2 
.0 



Alternate 
cropping, 
Group C 
or D, sum- 
mer tillage. 



Bushels. 
78.7 
61.9 
66.6 
36.7 



30.5 



55.6 
59.4 
48.4 
76.7 
30.0 
82.3 
46.3 
27.7 
3.5 
7.9 
13.4 
31.6 
23.1 



44.11 



Gain ( + ) or 
loss (-) by 
conservation 

over ordi- 
nary meth- 
ods, Group B 

compared 
withGroupA. 



Bushels. 

- 9.1 
-15.6 
+ 2.5 
+ -1 

- 1.6 
-10.7 
+ 1.9 

- 2.2 

- 1.9 
+ 6.0 
+34.1 

- 7.2 

- 7.0 
+ 2.4 
+ 2.2 

.0 

+12.2 
.0 



0.34 



Table III. — Comparison of yields to the acre of barley series, by groups. 



Station. 



Year. 



Continuous cropping. 



Group A, 
ordinary 
methods. 



Group B, 
conserva- 
tion 
methods. 



Alternate 
cropping, 
Group C 
or D, sum- 
mer tillage. 



Gain ( + ) or 
loss ( — ) by 
conservation 
over ordi- 
nary meth- 
ods, Group B 

compared 
withGroupA. 



Judith Basin, Mont. . 
Dickinson, N. Dak... 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak.... 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak. 
North Platte, Nebr. . 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans. . . 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



Average. 



1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 



1909 
1908 



Bushels. 
45.2 
33.5 
39.8 
10.2 
25.0 
27.0 
30.2 
29.8 
23.8 
39.0 
19.6 
19.7 
5.8 
2.4 
.0 
7.9 
.0 

21.11 



Bushels. 
43.3 
23.9 
39.0 

9.4 
24.2 
24.7 
37.1 
26.0 
25.0 
40.0 
43.3 
16.8 
12.4 

4.8 
.0 
13.2 

5.8 

22.88 



Bushels. 
49.4 
30.0 
50.0 
16.0 
24.2 
28.3 
40.2 
46.7 
37.3 
39.0 
67.7 
24.6 
18.9 
10.0 
7.5 
15.2 
17.5 

30.74 



Bushels. 

— 1.9 

- 9.6 



- 2.3 
+ 6.9 

- 3.8 
+ 1.2 
+ 1.0 
+23.7 

- 2.9 
+ 6.6 
+ 2.4 

.0 

+ 5.3 
+ 5.8 



1.76 



187 



18 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 



The most significant facts brought out by an inspection of the 
figures presented in Tables I, II, and III are as follows: 

(1 ) The yields in thirteen out of the eighteen seasons cited are above 
the normal for even the humid portions of the States where these 
stations are located, in some cases being more than double the 
normal. 

(2) There are surprisingly small differences between the yields 
obtained from the three different methods used, these differences 
being in many instances in the opposite direction from what might 
be reasonably expected from the popular belief in the efficacy of 
the methods followed. 

(3) There is but a single instance where summer tillage and alter- 
nate cropping increased the yields above the ordinary methods suf- 
ficiently to pay fully for the extra labor and expense involved. This 
was at North Platte in 1908. The average results of the three years' 
tests at this station do not, however, show profitable returns for sum- 
mer tillage as compared with continuous cropping. The average 
results of crop rotation have been more profitable than either con- 
tinuous cropping or alternate cropping and summer tillage. (See 
Tables XXII and XXIII.) 

(4) In all five instances (Edgeley, 1907; Hays, 1908; Garden City, 
1909; Dalhart, 1909; and Amarillo, 1909), where severe droughts 
were experienced, the yields for the summer-tilled plats as compared 
with the ordinary-method plats were much greater, the ratios being 
as follows: Edgeley — wheat 2.4 times, oats 1.7 times, barley 1.6 
times; Hays — wheat 3.5 times, oats 2.7 times, barley 3.3 times; 
Garden City — wheat 3.2 times, oats 4.1 times, barley 7.9 times. 
At both Dalhart and Amarillo, in 1909, the ordinary-method plats 
were complete failures from drought, while the yields on the summer- 
tilled plats were as follows: Dalhart — wheat 10.5 bushels, oats 13.4 
bushels, barley 7.5 bushels per acre; Amarillo — wheat 10.5 bushels, 
oats 23.1 bushels, barley 17.5 bushels per acre. None of these yields 
obtained during these dry years were sufficient to make the crops 
profitable. 

After a careful consideration of all the data submitted and all the 
arguments for and against the sufficiency of these data as a safe 
basis for conclusions, the following tentative conclusions are sub- 
mitted: 

CONCLUSIONS CONCERNING SUMMER TILLAGE AND CONTINUOUS 

CROPPING. 

(1) The practice of summer tillage and alternate cropping can 
not be considered a safe basis for a permanent agriculture in the 
Great Plains area, where spring-sown wheat, oats, or barley are the 
staple crops. 

187 



CHOPPING AND SUMMER TILLAGE. 19 

(2) Summer tillage will almost invariably increase the yield of 
wheat, oats, or barley and will materially reduce the danger of com- 
plete crop failure due to drought. It may therefore be resorted to 
as a safeguard or temporary expedient to meet a possible emergency, 
but it can not be depended upon to produce as profitable spring- 
sown crops as may be produced by other methods. Very good crops 
can usually be raised by one plowing and one or two harrowings, as 
is shown by yields obtained from continuous cropping by ordinary 
methods. Alternate cropping and summer tillage by methods used 
in these tests require on an average two plowings, four diskings, and 
twelve harrowings. Each farmer must decide for himself whether 
he can afford to perform this additional amount of labor in order to 
secure an increase in yield, which if the season proves favorable may 
be small, and to materially reduce the danger of total failure if the 
season proves unfavorable. He should, however, remember that 
summer tillage will in no way reduce the many dangers other than 
drought, such as unseasonable frosts and high winds, to which crops 
are subject. In fact, these dangers may be materially increased 
under a system of summer tillage. 

It frequently happens that specially favorable soil conditions 
early in the spring induce such a rank growth of the young grain 
plants that the injury from both late spring frosts and summer 
drought is greatly increased. These factors were of such importance 
as to completely reverse the results at North Platte, Nebr., in 1909. 
The moisture-conservation plats of wheat on both continuous crop- 
ping and alternate cropping gave lower yields than the ordinary- 
method plats, the loss due to good tillage being 7.7 bushels per acre 
for continuous cropping and 5 bushels per acre for alternate cropping. 
Several other instances of the same nature are shown in Tables I, II, 
and III. This loss on well- tilled plats may in some instances be due 
to proximate causes other than frost or drought. It seems reason- 
ably certain, however, that the ultimate cause is usually over- 
stimulation of the crop at some stage in its growth. It is a well- 
recognized fact among farmers that grain usually suffers more 
severely from rust when the growth is very rank and succulent than 
when it is less vigorous. A well- tilled soil may sometimes blow 
worse than a poorly tilled one. 

(3) The result of the experiments with moisture-conservation 
methods upon continuously cropped plats are so contradictory that 
no definite conclusions can be arrived at. This is true not only 
where different stations are compared, but where the same station 
for different years, or the same stations for the same years with 
different crops, are compared. All the evidence, however, goes to 
show that the time and depth of plowing and seeding and the har- 
rowing of the grain after seeding are problems that are local in their 

187 



20 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 

nature. The solutions of these problems are also so dependent upon 
seasonal conditions of soil and climate that no safe generalization 
concerning them can be made. Each farmer must therefore work 
out the best practice for his particular farm, crop, and season. It 
is believed, however, that our investigations a show that fairly deep 
plowing — about 8 inches — and thorough preparation of the seed bed 
will give better results than shallower plowing on most soils, whether 
spring or fall plowing is practiced. The deeper the plowing, the 
more thorough should be the harrowing in order to form a compact 
seed bed. 

CROP ROTATION COMPARED WITH CONTINUOUS CROPPING. 

OUTLINE OF THE THREE-YEAR ROTATIONS. 

At the same eleven stations described in the previous pages, a 
series of nine 3-year rotations were established at the same time that 
the continuous cropping experiments were begun. The plan of these 
rotations is described in the accompanying outline and in the explan- 
atory notes following. These rotations are identical for all of the 
eleven stations. 

Outline of 3-year rotations. 

Rotation No. 1. 

Plat A. Spring wheat on corn ground disked but not plowed. 
Plat B. Oats on ground plowed early the preceding fall. 
Plat C. Corn on ground plowed early the preceding fall. 

Rotation No. 2. 

Plat A. Spring wheat on spring-plowed ground. 
Plat B. Oats on spring-plowed ground. 
Plat C. Corn on spring-plowed ground. 

Rotation No. 3. 

Plat A. Spring wheat on ground plowed early the preceding fall. 
Plat B. Oats on ground plowed early the preceding fall. 
Plat C. Corn on ground plowed early the preceding fall. 

Rotation No. 4. 

Plat A. Oats on corn ground not plowed but disked. 
Plat B. Spring wheat on fall-plowed ground. 
Plat C. Corn on fall-plowed ground. 

Rotation No. 5. 

Plat A. Spring wheat on summer-tilled land. 

Plat B. Oats on ground plowed early the preceding fall. 

Plat C. Summer tilled. 

Rotation No. 6. 

Plat A. Barley on corn ground not plowed but disked. 
Plat B. Oats on ground plowed early the preceding fall. 
Plat C. Corn on ground plowed early the preceding fall. 



187 



a See the discussion of crop rotation which follows. 



CROP ROTATION COMPARED WITH CONTINUOUS CROPPING. 



21 



Rotation No. 7. 

Plat A. Oats on spring-plowed, ground. 
Plat B. Barley on spring-plowed ground. 
Plat C. Corn on spring-plowed ground. 

Rotation No. 8. 

Plat A. Oats on summer-tilled land. 

Plat B. Spring wheat on ground plowed early the preceding fall. 
Plat C. Summer tilled. 

Rotation No. 9. 

Plat A. Oats on spring-plowed ground. 

Plat B. Spring wheat on spring-plowed ground. 

Plat C. Corn on spring-plowed ground. 

The nine 3-year rotations are so planned as to give an oppor- 
tunity to compare the several rotations considered as units and also 
to compare the several crops grown in different rotations under 
systems of soil preparation and following different crops. As each 
rotation is represented by three plats, each of the crops entering into 
the rotation is represented every year. This is a very important 
feature and one that has been neglected in most of the rotation 
experiments heretofore made. By this system the differences in 
yield produced by the seasonal peculiarities are eliminated and it 
may safely be assumed that any difference in yield that occurs in 
any two crops of the same kind grown the same year in two rotations 
is due either to the method of soil preparation or to crop sequence. 
Which of these two factors is the controlling one may usually be 
determined by an easy method of cross-checking with the same 
crop in other rotations, whereby one or both factors may be elimi- 
nated. 

As an example of some of the comparisons that may be made and 
the conclusions drawn, the following are suggested: 

Rotations Nos. 1, 2, and 3 are identical so far as crops and sequence 
are concerned, but each differs from the other in soil preparation for the 
wheat crop. Any difference in the wheat yields in rotations Nos. 1 
and 3 may safely be attributed to the effects of stubbling in No. 1 
instead of fall plowing the corn ground as in No. 3, this being the only 
variable factor. The two rotations thus as units may be safely com- 
pared to determine the effect of stubbling upon the wheat crop and 
also upon the two crops which follow, namely, oats and corn. The oat 
crops in these rotations may be safely compared to see whether the 
effect of the soil preparation for the corn crop is apparent in the sub- 
sequent crop of oats. The corn crop in these two rotations being so 
far removed from the only variable factor should be about equal, and 
any difference will have to be accounted for in a way not apparent, 

187 



22 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 



except that in No. 2 spring plowing has been practiced, while Nos. 1 
and 3 are fall plowed. 

Rotations Nos. 2 and 3 are identical, except that spring plowing is 
practiced in No. 2, while No. 3 is fall plowed. This will give an oppor- 
tunity to compare spring with fall plowing both upon the rotations 
as units and upon each of the several crops of the rotation. 

Rotations Nos. 1 and 4 have the same crops in each, but their 
sequence is changed, oats instead of wheat being stubbled in after 
corn, with wheat following oats instead of oats following wheat. A 
comparison of these two wheat and oats crops will give some very 
definite information concerning the proper sequence of these two 
crops, as well as the proper relation of the corn crop to each. The 
relative effect of wheat and oats upon the following corn crop can 
also be studied. 

Rotations Nos. 1, 2, and 3 may be compared with rotation No. 5 
to ascertain the relative merits of summer-fallowing and cropping 
to corn as a preparation for a wheat crop, taking into consideration 
that but two crops are grown in three years in the case of No. 5, while 
three crops are grown in Nos. 1, 2, and 3. 

In rotation No. 6 a barley crop has been substituted for the wheat 
crops which occur in all the preceding rotations. Many comparisons 
may be made between these six rotations that will throw much light 
upon sequence as well as cultivation. 

Rotation No. 7 is like No. 6, except that the relative positions of 
oats and barley have been transposed. The same comparison may 
be made with this as with No. 6. 

In rotation No. 8 we have another chance to compare summer 
fallow with corn as a preparation for small-grain crops, oats being 
the crop used to follow the summer fallow in this instance. A com- 
parison of No. 8 with No. 4 will bring out the relative value of corn 
and summer fallow as a preparation for oats, and a comparison with 
No. 1 and No. 5 will show whether the best results will be obtained 
from using wheat, oats, or barley as a crop to follow corn or summer- 
fallow. 

Rotation No. 9 is identical with No. 3, except that the sequence is 
changed. 

Besides the comparisons already mentioned, the list of which 
might be indefinitely extended, each one of the nine rotations may be 
compared as a unit with any other. 

We have seven crops of wheat growing each year, as follows: 

No. 1. Wheat after corn — stubbled in. No. 5. Wheat after summer fallow. 

No. 2. Wheat after corn — spring plowing. No. 8. Wheat after oats — fall plowing. 

No. 3. Wheat after corn — fall plowing. No. 9. Wheat after oats — spring plowing. 
No. 4. Wheat after oats — fall plowing. 
187 



CROP ROTATION COMPARED WITH CONTINUOUS CROPPING. 



23 



We have seven crops of corn, grown as follows: 

No. 1. Corn after oats— fall plowing. No. 6. Corn after oats— fall plowing. 

No. 2. Corn after oats— spring plowing. No. 7. Corn after barley— spring plowing. 

No. 3. Corn after oats— fall plowing. No. 9. Corn after wheat— spring plowing. 
No. 4. Corn after wheat — fall plowing. 

Oats enter into each of the nine rotations, and have been grown as 
follows : 

No. 1. Oats after wheat— fall plowing. No. 6. Oats after barley— fall plowing. 

No. 2. Oats after wheat — spring plowing. No. 7. Oats after corn — spring plowing. 

No. 3. Oats after wheat — fall plowing. No. 8. Oats after summer fallow. 

No. 4. Oats after corn — stubbled in. No. 9. Oats after corn — spring plowing. 
No. 5. Oats after wheat — fall plowing. 

Barley enters into but two of the rotations, as follows: 

No. 6. Barley after corn — stubbled in. | No. 7. Barley after oats — spring plowing. 

An inspection of this tabular arrangement of the crops will at once 
show that there are a very large number of questions concerning soil 
preparation and crop sequence that may be definitely answered by 
this series of experiments, not from the result of a single instance but 
by a system of cross-checking from the results of several crops grown 
every year under different systems of soil preparation and crop 
sequence. 

EXPLANATORY NOTES. 

The purposes of this series of rotations are to test the effect of crop 
sequence and time of plowing. 

Good farming is practiced upon all the plats. No special methods 
of moisture conservation are contemplated in this experiment. Plow- 
ing is to a depth of 8 inches and is uniform for all plats. 

Fall plowing is done as early in the season as practicable. Whether 
the land is disked or harrowed or left undisturbed after fall plowing 
is left to the judgment of the man immediately in charge. Whatever 
practice in this respect is adopted for one of these rotations is followed 
for all in this series. The same general rule is applied to plowing 
and the fitting of the seed bed in the spring. Such an amount of work 
is done upon the land as will put it in good tilth. 

In spring plowing for corn the rule has been to have the plowing 
deferred until corn-planting time, and for the planter to follow as 
closely after the plowing as possible and the harrow immediately 
after the planter. In some instances it has seemed desirable to disk 
or harrow the ground before spring plowing for corn. This is left 
to the judgment of the man in charge. 

The summer-tilled plats in this series have been treated like the 
summer-tilled plats in the moisture-conservation series discussed in 
the previous pages. 

187 



24 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOE GREAT PLAINS. 

These rotations were not planned nor are they here presented as 
the best rotations for the Great Plains area. They are seriously 
defective in that they make no provision for maintaining or restoring 
the organic matter to the soil. They were established for the pur- 
pose of studying the effects of crop sequence, or the effect that one 
crop has upon the crops following it, and the relative merits of fall 
and spring plowing. For these purposes these simple rotations have 
some marked advantages over longer and better rotations. This 
phase of the experiments will be but very briefly mentioned at this 
time, although it is believed that the thoughtful reader may find 
some very interesting, although possibly not conclusive, evidence on 
these subjects by a careful study of these tables. This subject will 
be more fully treated in some future publication. The purpose of 
introducing these figures at this time is to show that even these 
defective 3-year rotations have given better net results than either 
the continuous cropping or alternate cropping and summer tillage 
described in the foregoing pages. By " better net results" is meant 
that at nearly all stations the yields have been better for all three 
crops — wheat, oats, and barley — where the rotation of crops has been 
practiced than where the same crop has been grown continuously on 
the same ground. This statement is equally true concerning both 
ordinary methods and moisture-conservation methods of continuous 
cropping. The labor and expense involved in raising crops under a 
system of rotation are not materially greater than where continuous 
cropping by ordinary methods is practiced. The labor and expense 
of raising crops under moisture-conservation methods of continuous 
cropping are materially greater than under a system of crop rotation, 
as these two systems have been practiced in these experiments. 

Where but one crop is raised in two years, as in the case of alter- 
nate cropping and summer tillage, the labor and expense per crop 
are nearly or quite double that of either rotation or continuous crop- 
ping by ordinary methods. In order, then, to make the net results 
as favorable under alternate cropping as under either continuous 
cropping or crop rotation, the yields should be nearly double. Sum- 
mer tillage has nearly always increased the yields, but it has seldom 
doubled them. In only a few instances has this increase been suffi- 
cient to pay the bare expenses of the additional labor involved. Crop 
rotation has therefore given better net returns than either alternate 
cropping and summer tillage or continuous cropping by either ordi- 
nary methods or moisture-conservation methods, as is shown by 
Tables XXII and XXIII. 

A COMMON BASIS OF COMPARISON. 

In order to answer many of the important questions concerning 
the relation and adaptability of rotations, it is apparent that we 
must have some common basis of comparison for the several crops 

187 



CROP ROTATION COMPARED WITH CONTINUOUS CROPPING. 25 

grown in the rotation. The rotations giving the best yields of wheat 
seldom give the best yields of oats, and the best rotations calculated 
on an oat basis are not the best for barley. In order to make the 
necessary comparisons we must be able to reduce the figures repre- 
senting the yields in bushels per acre of all the crops in the rotation 
to a common unit of measurement. This has been done for wheat, 
corn, oats, and barley. 

The Bureau of Statistics reports a as follows concerning the aver- 
age farm price per bushel for the ten years 1900-1909, inclusive: 



Average price per bushel for wheat, corn, oats, and barley, in four States, 1900-1909. 



State. 


Wheat. 


Corn. 


Oats. 

Cents. 
31 
29 
29 
33 


Barley. 


North Dakota 


Cents. 
68 
67 
63 
67 


Cents. 
44 
37 
35 
40 


Cents. 

38 
37 
36 
39 


South Dakota 


Nebraska 


Kansas 


Average 


66 39 


30 


38 





These four States were selected as giving a more reliable basis than 
could be obtained by including Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Okla- 
homa, Texas, and New Mexico. All of these latter-named States 
have a portion of their territory lying within territory where local 
conditions of supply and demand very seriously affect both the rela- 
tive and the absolute prices. On the other hand, the four States 
first named lie entirely within the Plains region, with sufficiently 
free access to the large grain markets to insure them against any 
serious influence from purely local conditions. The figures given will 
therefore be used, after making one correction, for calculating the 
value of the rotations. This one correction is in the case of the price 
for wheat. The figures given are the averages for all the wheat 
marketed in the four States specified. This includes durum as well 
as common wheats. Durum wheats were used exclusively in our 
experiments with spring wheat. The price of durum wheat has 
nearly always been less than the averages for all wheats — just how 
much lower on the average for the last ten years we have no means 
of knowing. Neither have we any satisfactory basis for calculating 
the percentage of durum to the entire wheat crop of these States. 
It has therefore been decided to arbitrarily reduce the above estimate 
to 60 cents per bushel for durum wheats. It is probable that the 
reduction should be greater than this rather than less, but in the 
absence of any more satisfactory basis the following prices in cents 
per bushel have been adopted: 

Durum wheat 60 | Oats 30 

Corn 39 I Barley 38 



187 



.a Crop Reporter, December, 1909, p. 82. 



26 CULTIVATIOK METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 

While these values per bushel seem to be the most reliable obtain- 
able, they are open to several objections, among which are the 
following : 

They are much too low for all crops to agree with present prices, 
or those obtaining when these investigations were made. As it is 
the relative rather than the absolute prices of these crops that are of 
most importance, this defect is not so serious as some others. If 
these prices were relatively correct, they could be raised horizontally 
to suit market prices at any given time, without disturbing their 
relations to each other, by simply multiplying them by some factor 
which would bring them all up to the proper figure. A much more 
serious defect is found in the fact that the average prices for the last 
ten years do not bear the same relation to each other that the crop- 
producing power of the soil bears to those prices when sown to these 
crops under exactly the same conditions. To illustrate, we give below 
the average yields obtained from each of the three grain crops in all 
the 18 tests under continuous cropping by ordinary methods and by 
crop rotation, with the value per acre, calculated on the basis of the 
farm price per bushel for the last ten years : 

Table IV. — Average yields on experimental plats, in bushels, and average farm value 
per acre, based on the average prices for ten years, 1900-1909, inclusive, in North and 
South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas. 



Cropping method. 


Wheat. 


Oats. 


Barley. 


Price 
per 
bushel. 


Farm 
value per 
acre. 


Continuous cropping, ordinary methods 


Bushels. 
17.4 


Bushels. 


Bushels. 


Cents. 
60 
30 
38 
60 
30 
38 


$10. 44 
9. 06 
8.02 
11.88 
10.89 
9.23 


Do 


30.2 




Do 




21.1 


Three-year rotation 


19.8 




Do 


36.3 




Do 




24.3 









It will be seen that wheat under continuous cropping produced 
a farm value per acre of $10.44, while oats produced only $9.06 and 
barley $8.02. . The land upon which these yields were obtained was 
the same for each of the three crops. The climatic conditions and 
the preparation of the soil were the same. The cost of raising the 
crop was essentially the same for all the crops. Therefore, the farm 
value per acre should have been the same if the farmer were to 
receive the same profit on each crop. Such, however, was not the 
case, as shown by the above figures. In order to make the same 
profit from all the crops, it would have been necessary to secure 
34^ cents per bushel for oats, instead of 30 cents and 49J cents per 
bushel for barley. With crop rotation the results are similar; the 
price for oats should have been 33 cents and for barley 49 cents to 
make the farm value per acre the same as for wheat at 60 cents per 

187 



CROP ROTATION COMPARED WITH CONTINUOUS CROPPING. 27 

bushel. Figuring wheat on a 90-cents-per-bushel basis, which is 
approximately the present market price, oats should bring about 
51 cents and barley about 73 cents per bushel. This is considerably 
in excess of present farm prices for oats and barley, which shows 
that they are at present and have been for the last ten years rela- 
tively too low in comparison with wheat. 

This is an important consideration with every farmer who is 
planning to diversify his crops in order to adopt a system of crop 
rotation. It is evident that in order to receive equal immediate 
cash returns for his crops he must accomplish one or more of the 
following results: 

(1) He must, by selecting varieties especially adapted to the 
locality or by better methods of tillage, increase the relative yields 
of oats and barley as compared with wheat above those obtained in 
these investigations; or (2) he must, by raising oats or barley of 
superior quality, obtain prices in advance of the average market 
price; or (3) he must, by feeding these grains, realize more than the 
market price for them; or (4) he must, by adopting a rotation of 
crops instead of cropping continuously to the sanie crop, improve 
the condition of his farm, and by reducing the loss from weeds, 
diseases, and insect attacks increase the yields of all the crops grown 
so as to make the net returns from his farm equal to or greater than 
those obtainable from continuous cropping to wheat. 

It is probable that most of the results mentioned may be obtained 
by adopting a proper system of crop rotation. The value of the 
results so obtained and the best method of obtaining them depend 
largely upon local conditions of soil and climate, the market prices 
for grain and live stock, and frequently upon various other condi- 
tions more or less local or individual in their nature. Such being 
the case, each farmer must necessarily depend largely upon his own 
judgment and knowledge of these conditions in deciding how best 
to accomplish the desired results. 

The discussion of the results of these investigations will, therefore, 
be confined mainly to showing what may reasonably be expected 
from increased yields due directly to crop rotation as compared with 
continuous cropping. 

Table V has been prepared by using the same values per bushel 
as in Table IV and the yields from continuous cropping by ordinary 
methods at each of the stations as a basis. The figures given in the 
table in the column headed " Average for wheat and oats" have 
been used as a basis of comparison with rotations 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 
and 9 in Tables XXII and XXIII. The figures in column headed 
"Average for barley and oats " have been used as a basis of comparison 
with rotations 6 and 7 in the same tables. The figures given in the 

187 



28 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 

columns headed " Wheat at 60 cents/' "Oats at 30 cents," and 
" Barley at 38 cents/' respectively, may be used to make comparisons 
of yields per acre and farm values per acre between continuous 
cropping and crop rotation for wheat, oats, or barley in any rota- 
tion or for any test reported in Tables VI to XIV, inclusive. 



Table V. — Yields from continuous cropping by ordinary methods, in bushels and in 
farm value per acre, at average prices for the ten years 1900-1909 , inclusive. 



Station. 


Year. 


Wheat at 60 
cents. 


Oats at 30 
cents. 


Barley at 38 
cents. 


Average 

for 
wheat 
and oats. 


Average 

for 
barley 
and oats. 






Bush. 




Bush. 




Bush. 








Judith Basin, Mont 


1909 


33.0 


$19. 80 


75.3 


$22. 59 


45 


2 


$17.20 


$21.20 


$19.90 


Dickinson, N. Dak 


1908 


24.3 


14. 58 


48.4 


14. 52 


33 


5 


12. 73 


14. 55 


13.62 


Do 


1909 


26.8 


16. 08 


55.9 


16. 77 


39 


8 


15. 12 


16.42 


15.95 


Edgeley, N. Dak 


1907 


4.1 


2.46 


21.3 


6. 39 


10 


2 


3.88 


4. 43 


5.13 


Do 


1908 


13.3 




16.9 


5.07 


25 





9. 50 


6. 53 


7.29 


Do 


1909 


28.3 


16! 98 


57.5 


17. 25 


27 





10. 26 


17.11 


13.75 


Highmore, S. Dak 


1907 


28.8 


17. 28 


45. 3 


13.59 


30 


2 


11.48 


15.44 


12. 53 


Do 


1908 


26.3 


15. 78 


34.4 


10. 32 


29 


8 


11.32 


13.05 


10.82 


Bellefourche, S. Dak .... 


1909 


23.8 


14. 28 


48.8 


14. 64 


23 


8 


9.04 


14. 46 


11.84 


North Platte, Nebr 


1907 


24.5 


14. 70 


30.0 


9. 00 


39 





14.82 


11.85 


11.91 


Do 


1908 


22.7 


13.62 


34.2 


10.34 


19 


6 


7.45 


11.98 


8. 90 


Do 


1909 


23.0 


13.80 


31.3 


9.39 








11.59 


9. 30 


Akron, Colo 


1909 


. 14.3 


8. 58 


21.1 


6. 33 


19 


7 


7.49 


7. 46 


6. 91 


Hays, Kans 


1908 


1.2 


.72 


1.3 


.39 


5 


8 


2.20 


.56 


1.30 


Garden City, Kans 


1909 


2.1 


1.26 


1.0 


.30 


2. 


4 


.91 


.78 


.61 


Dalhart, Tex 


1909 


0.0 


0. 00 


0.0 


0. 00 








0.00 


0.00 


0.00 


Amarillo, Tex 


1908 


17.0 


10. 20 


20.0 


6. 00 


7 


9 


3.00 


8.10 


4. 50 


Do 


1909 


0.0 


0. 00 


0.0 


0. 00 








0.00 


0.00 


0. 00 


Average 




17.4 


10. 44 


30.2 


9.06 


21 


1 


8.02 


9.75 


8. 53 







The following nine tables, Tables VI to XIV, inclusive, show in 
detail the yields per acre in bushels and the farm value per acre for 
each of the three crops grown in the nineteen tests. The farm values 
have been calculated on the basis of 60 cents for wheat, 30 cents for 
oats, 38 cents for barley, and 39 cents for corn. 

In these tables the average farm values in dollars per acre of the 
two small-grain crops only in each rotation have been considered. 
Seven of these rotations contain corn crops, and two of them, Nos. 
5 and 8, a year of summer tillage each. There is therefore one factor — 
the yield of the corn crop — which has so far been neglected in con- 
sidering the relative yields of the rotations. This omission is to be 
regretted, but it seemed unavoidable for the following reasons: 

(1) The corn crop lends itself much less readily to growing on 
small plats so as to give results comparable to those of large fields 
than do wheat, oats, and barley. While careful records of all corn 
yields have been kept, they are not entitled to the same confidence as 
the small-grain yields. (2) Very little, if any, of the Great Plains 
area can be considered as a corn-growing country. In most of the 
area corn can and will be profitably grown, but a considerable share 
of the profit from its growth will be derived from the beneficial effect 

187 



CROP EOTATION COMPARED WITH CONTINUOUS CROPPING. 29 

which the growing of the corn crop has in preparing the soil for the 
crops of small grain which are to follow it in rotation. 

It is assumed that the corn crop will produce enough in the form 
of fodder and grain to at least pay for the labor involved in its pro- 
duction. The labor involved in raising a crop of corn is no greater 
than that required to summer till an equal area. In comparing the 
yields obtained from the small-grain crops in a rotation containing 
summer tillage with one containing corn it has been assumed that the 
yields from the summer-tillage rotation must be enough in excess of 
those from the corn rotation to pay for the summer tillage. Or, to 
put it in another way, the corn crop must be sufficient to equal in 
value the excess in yield of the two small-grain crops in the summer- 
tilled over those in the corn rotation. Whatever form of compari- 
son is used it is assumed that the labor required to produce a crop of 
corn is approximately the same as to summer till. The corn crop 
pays for the work bestowed upon it, while the summer-tilled rotation 
must produce enough more small grain to pay for the cost of the sum- 
mer tillage. 

Corn should therefore be much more commonly grown than it now 
is in this area, not because it is a profitable crop in itself, but because 
it takes the place of summer tillage in the rotation and at least pays 
for the labor bestowed upon it. A corn crop might therefore be con- 
sidered a complete failure judged from the standpoint of grain pro- 
duction, but still yield enough in the way of rough fodder and be valu- 
able enough in its effect upon subsequent crops in the rotation to make 
it a very profitable crop. 

In the double columns headed "Corn" are given the yields in 
bushels per acre and the farm value per acre based upon the actual 
yields of grain wherever the crop matured. The yields of fodder are 
also given in pounds per acre, but no value is calculated for this por- 
tion of the crop. It will be noticed that in many instances a good 
yield of fodder was obtained without any reported yield of grain. 
This is due to the failure of the crop to mature. The selection of an 
earlier maturing variety would undoubtedly in many instances have 
resulted in a good yield of grain. The corn yields do not enter into 
the valuation of the rotation. These figures are given simply to show 
that corn can be grown at these stations. 

187 



30 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 



Table VI . — Yields of wheat, oats, and corn in bushels per acre and farm value per acre 
in nineteen tests, 1906-1909, inclusive. 

Rotation No. 1. 

Plat A. Spring wheat on corn ground disked but not plowed. 
Plat B. Oats on ground plowed early the preceding fall. 
Plat C. Corn on ground plowed early the preceding fall. 



Station. 



Judith Basin, Mont.. 
Dickinson, N. Dak. . 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak... 

Do 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak. 
North Platte, Nebr.. 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans... 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



Average. 



Year. 



1909 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 



1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 



Wheat. 



Bushels. 
34.8 
35.8 
39.8 
16.7 
24.0 
33.0 
26.7 
21.5 
24.3 
29.4 
22.3 
28.6 
21.7 
25.0 
3.7 
1.0 
.0 
8.3 
.0 



20. 87 



$20. 88 
21.48 
23.88 
10. 02 
14. 40 
19.80 
16.02 
12.90 
14. 58 
17. 64 
13.38 
17.16 
13.02 
15.00 
2.22 
.60 
.00 
4. 98 
.00 



Oats. 



Bushels, 
68.1 
35.3 
64.4 
25.9 
26.3 
64.0 
45.3 
46.9 
28.8 
55.6 
26.9 
60.3 
23.1 
25.6 
28.5 
3.0 
.0 
28.1 
10.0 



12. 52 35. 06 



$20. 43 
10. 59 
19. 32 
7.77 
7.89 
19.20 
13. 59 
14. 07 
8. 64 
16. C8 
8. 07 
18. 09 
6. 93 
7. 68 
8. 55 
.90 
.00 
8.43 
3.00 



10. 52 



Corn. 



Bushels. 



50.7 



30.8 
33.1 
21.4 
16.4 
20.7 
14.4 
31.8 
25.1 
26.4 
4.2 



$19.77 



16.6 j 



12.01 
12.91 
8.35 
6. 40 
8. 07 
5.62 
12.40 
9. 79 
10. 30 
1.64 
.00 
.00 
6. 48 
.00 



Corn 
fodder. 



Pounds. 
8,lf0 
2,050 
2,080 
4,150 
2,(00 
3,150 



11.52 



Table VII. — Yields of wheat, oats, and corn in bushels per acre and farm value per acre 
in nineteen tests, 1906-1909, inclusive. 

Rotation No. 2. 

Plat A. Spring wheat on spring-plowed ground. 
Plat B. Oats on spring-plowed ground. 
Plat C. Corn on spring-plowed ground. 



Station. 



Year. 



Wheat. 



Oats. 



Corn. 



Corn 
fodder. 



Aver- 
age 

value 
per acre 
of 

wheat 
and 

oats. 



Judith Basin, Mont.. 
Dickinson, N. Dak. . 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak... 

Do 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak. 
North Platte, Nebr. . 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans. . 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



1909 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 



Average . 



187 



Bushels 
33.1 
35.0 
39.7 
13.2 
15.8 
32.6 
27.3 
29.0 
25.2 
23.9 
23.7 
24.0 
17.2 
20.8 
1.5 
4.0 
.0 
8.0 
.0 



$19. 86 
21.00 
23. 82 
7. 92 
9.48 
19.56 
16. 38 
17.40 
15. 12 
14. 34 
14. 22 
14.40 
10. 32 
12. 48 
.90 
2.40 
.00 
4.80 
.00 



Bushels 
63.1 
52.5 
60.6 
29.7 
20.6 
63.7 
38.8 
41.6 
36.9 
42.5 
32.3 
36.9 
28.1 
18.3 
26.0 

1.3 
.0 

2. 34 
.0 



19.68 ; 11.81 



32. 44 



Bushels 



$18. 93 
15. 75 
18. 18 
8. 91 
6. 18 
19.11 
11.64 
12.48 
11.07 
12. 75 



11.07 
8. 43 
5.49 
7.80 
.39 
.00 
7. 02 
.00 



9.73 I 16.84 



49.7 


$19. 38 






31. 


3 


12. 21 


42 


7 


16. 55 


21 


4 


8. 35 


28 


8 


11.23 


17 


2 


6.71 


17. 





6.63 


31. 


6 


12. 32 


25 





9. 75 


26. 


3 


10. 26 


16. 





6. 24 



Pounds 
6,650 
1,340 
2,180 
3,150 
2,500 
3,350 



CROP ROTATION COMPARED WITH CONTINUOUS CROPPING. 



31 



Table VIII. — Yields of wheat, oats, and corn in bushels per acre and farm value per acre 
in nineteen tests, 1906-1909, inclusive. 

Rotation No. 3. 

Plat A. Spring wheat on ground plowed early the preceding fall. 
Plat B. Oats on ground plowed early the preceding fall. 
Plat C. Corn on ground plowed early the preceding fall. 



Station. 



Year. 



Wheat. 



Oats. 



Corn. 



Corn 
fodder. 



Aver- 
age 
value 
per acre 

of 
wheat 
and 
oats. 



Judith Basin, Mont . 
Dickinson, N. Dak. . 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Highrnore, S. Dak. . . 

Do 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak. 
North Platte, Nebr. . 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans . . 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



1909 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 



1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 



Bushels 
31.0 
35.0 
37.3 
12.6 
20.8 
32.5 
25.5 
27.2 
25.7 
29.9 
20.7 
27.7 
24.3 
19.2 
3.9 
2.2 
.0 
8.5 
.0 



Average . 



20. 21 



$18. 60 
21.00 
22. 38 
7. 56 
12. 48 
19. 50 

15. 30 

16. 32 
15.42 
17. 94 
12. 42 
16. 62 
14. 58 
11.52 

2. 34 
1.32 

.00 
5. 10 

.00 



Bushels. 
61.5 
38.9 
62.5 
30.5 
16.9 
66.5 
47.2 
45.3 
29.7 
53.6 
30.6 
60.3 
18.3 
18.8 
20.1 
.0 
.0 
27.5 
17.8 



12. 30 



34.0 



Bushels 



$18. 45 
11.67 
18. 75 

9.15 

5. 07 
19. 95 
14. 16 
13.59 

8. 91 
16. 08 

9. 18 
18. 09 

5.49 

5. 64 

6. 03 
.00 
.00 

8. 25 
5. 34 



10. 20 



29.0 
39.1 
22.9 
19.6 
17.8 
19.6 
33.7 
22.6 
25.7 
5.7 



17.6 



$18. 84 



11.31 
15. 25 
8. 93 
7.64 
6. 94 
7.64 
13. 14 
8. 71 
10. 02 
2.22 
.00 
.00 
6. 86 
.00 



Pounds. 
8,960 
2, 510 
1,940 
3,150 
1,900 
2,750 



3,415 
4,670 
3,430 
2,170 
4,400 
5,700 
2,940 
1,000 
3,250 
1,430 



$18. 53 

16. 33 
20. 57 

8. 35 
8. 78 
19. 72 
14. 73 
14. 96 
12. 16 

17. 01 
10. 80 
17. 36 
10. 04 

8.58 
4. 19 
.66 
.00 
6. 67 
2. 67 



11.16 



Table IX. — Yields of oats, wheat, and corn in bushels per acre and farm value per acre 
in nineteen tests, 1906-1909, inclusive. 

Rotation No. 4. 

Plat A. Oats on corn ground, not plowed but disked. 
Plat B. Spring wheat on fall-plowed ground. 
Plat C. Corn on fall-plowed ground. 



Station. 



Year. 



Oats. 



Wheat, 



Corn. 



Corn 
fodder. 



Aver- 
age 
value 
per acre 

of 
wheat 
and 
oats. 



Judith Basin, Mont | 1909 

Dickinson, N. Dak ! 1908 

Do 1909 

Edgeley, N. Dak 1907 

Do 1908 

Do 1909 

Highrnore, S. Dak ; 1906 

Do 1907 

Do j 1908 

Bellefourche, S. Dak 1909 

North Platte, Nebr ; 1907 

Do 1908 

Do 1909 

Akron, Colo I 1909 

Hays, Kans 1908 

Garden Citv, Kans 1909 

Dalhart, Tex 1909 

Amarillo, Tex 1 1908 

Do 1909 

Average I 



Bushels 
74.1 
67.2 
72.5 
28.8 
23.4 
63.7 
61.6 
48.4 
35.6 
75.0 
40.6 
54.3 
22.5 
21.3 
16.0 
2.9 

.0 
22.8 

.0 



$22. 23 
20.16 
21.75 
8. 64 
7.02 
19. 11 
18.48 
14.52 
10.68 
22.50 
12. 18 
16.29 
6. 75 
6.39 
4.80 
.87 
.00 
6. 84 
.00 



Bushels, 
33.3 
18.8 
34.3 
10.5 
15.7 
28.5 
25.0 
29.0 
21.8 
29.7 
24.2 
31.3 
16.8 
10.6 
6.7 
.9 
.0 
13.2 
.0 



38.46 11.54 18.44 11 



$19. 98 
11.28 
20.58 
6. 30 
9.42 
17. 10 
15. 00 
17.40 
13. 08 
17. 82 
14.52 
18.78 
10. 08 
6. 36 
4. 02 
.54 
.00 
7.92 
.00 



Bushels 



$19. 07 



32.1 


12 


52 


36.1 


14 


08 


22.6 


8 


81 


8.4 


3 


27 


19.8 


7 


72 


17.7 


6 


90 


30.0 


11 


70 


29.6 


11 


54 


23.1 


9 


01 


5.4 


2 


11 



Pounds 
7,040 
2,330 
2, 000 
2,850 
1,750 
2,950 



17.6 



6. 86 



3,215 
4,570 
3,670 
2,730 
2,340 
5, 160 
2,440 
850 
3,280 
1,510 



$21. 11 
15.72 
21.17 
7.47 
8. 22 
18. 10 

16. 74 
15. 96 
11.88 
20. 16 
13. 35 

17. 54 
8. 41 
6. 38 
4.41 

.70 
.00 
7. 38 
.00 



11.30 



52345°— Bui. 187—10 3 



32 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 



Table X. — Yields of wheat and oats in bushels per acre and farm value per acre in nine- 
teen tests, 1906-1909, inclusive. 

Rotation No. 5. 

Plat A. Spring wheat on fallow land. 

Plat B. Oats on ground plowed early the preceding fall. 

Plat C. Summer tillage. 



Station. 


Year. 


Wheat. 


Oats. 


Average 
value per 
acre of 
wheat 
and oats. 






Bushels. 




Bushels. 






Judith Basin, Mont 


1909 


38.0 


$22. 80 


67 


1 


$20. 13 


$21. 47 


T^iplriTicrm "NT T^cilr 


1908 


33.0 


19.80 


" 39 


4 


11.82 


1 K CI 
10. Ol 


Do ... 


1909 


37.7 


22.62 


63 


8 


19. 14 


20.88 


Edgeley, N. Dak 


1907 


11.8 


7.08 


27 


5 


8. 25 


7.66 


Do 


1908 


19.5 


11.70 


33. 


4 


10. 02 


10. 86 


Do 


1909 


29.8 


17. 88 


63. 


7 


19.11 


18.50 


Highmore, S. Dak 


1906 


31.7 


19. 02 


46. 


6 


13.98 


16.50 


Do 


1907 


33.3 


19.98 


55. 





16.50 


18. 24 


Do 


1908 


29.0 


17.40 


27. 


8 


8. 34 


12.87 


Bellefourche, S. Dak 


1909 


31.4 • 


18. 84 


51. 


6 


15.48 


17. 16 


North Platte, Nebr 


1907 


26.0 


15.60 


31. 


2 


9. 36 


12.48 


Do 


1908 


42.2 


25. 32 


54. 


7 


16. 41 


20. 87 


Do 


1909 


27.2 


16. 32 


19. 


1 


5.73 


11.02 


Akron, Colo 


1909 


18.2 


10. 92 


16. 


7 


5.01 


7.96 


Hays, Kans 


1908 


4.1 


2. 46 


22. 


8 


6. 84 


11.65 


Garden City, Kans 


1909 


6.6 


3. 96 


3. 


3 


.99 


2.48 


Dalhart, Tex 


1909 


7.7 


4.62 







.00 


2. 31 


Amarillo, Tex 


1908 


16.5 


9. 90 


24! 


4 


7. 32 


8. 61 


Do 


1909 


9.5 


5. 70 


15. 


3 


4.59 


5.14 


Average 




' 28. 35 


14. 31 


34.92 


10.47 


12.39 







Table XI. — Yields of barley, oats, and corn in bushels per acre and farm value per acre 
in nineteen tests, 1906-1909, inclusive. 

Rotation No. 6. 

Plat A. Barley on corn ground, not plowed but disked. 
Plat B. Oats on ground plowed early the preceding fall. 
Plat C. Corn on ground plowed early the preceding fall. 



Station. 



Year. 



Barley. 



Oats. 



Corn. 



Corn 
fodder. 



Average 

value 
per acre 

of 
barley 
and 
oats. 



Judith Basin, Mont.. 
Dickinson, N. Dak. . 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak.... 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak... 

Do 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak. 
North Platte, Nebr. . 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans. . 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 



1909 
1909 



Bushels 
42.7 
45.6 
53.8 
18.3 
31.9 
33.1 
37.7 
25.0 
30.0 
47.1 
30.6 
24.9 
21.5 
24.9 
12.3 

5.1 
.0 

7.5 
.0 



Average. 



25.9 



$16. 23 
17.33 
20.44 
6. 95 
12.12 
12. 58 
14. 33 
9. 50 
11.40 
17. 90 
11.63 
9. 46 
8. 17 
9. 46 
4.67 
1.94 
.00 
2. 85 
.00 



Bushels, 
57.8 
44.7" 
61.9 
32.5 
15.9 
60.3 
53.8 
49.4 
36.3 
65.6 
23.1 
49.1 
19.7 
20.8 
35.5 
3.1 

.0 
31.3 

.0 



.84 



Bushels. 



$17. 34 

13. 41 

18. 57 
9.75 
4.77 

18. 09 
16.14 
14.82 
10. 89 

19. 68 
6. 93 

14. 73 
5. 91 
6. 24 

10. 65 
.93 
.00 
9. 39 
.00 



50.3 



29.8 
36.1 
20.0 
18.4 
19.2 
20.0 
23.2 
31.7 
26.1 
5.5 



18.3 



$19. 62 



11.62 
14.08 
7.80 
7. 18 
7.49 
7. 80 
9.05 
12. 36 
10. 18 
21.45 



Pounds 
8,320 
2,100 
2,000 
2,650 
2,350 
2,400 



7. 14 



3,460 
4,410 
2,870 
2,030 
2,720 
6,115 
2,500 
650 
3,200 
1,220 



187 



CKOP ROTATION COMPARED WITH CONTINUOUS CROPPING. 33 



Table XII. — Yields of oats, barley, and corn in bushels per acre and farm value per acre 
in nineteen tests, 1906-1909, inclusive. 

Rotation No. 7. 

Plat A. Oats on spring-plowed ground. 
Plat B. Barley on spring-plowed ground. 
Plat C. Corn on spring-plowed ground. 



Station. 



Judith Basin, Mont.. 
Dickinson, N. Dak. . 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak... 

Do 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak. 
North Platte, Nebr.. 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Garden City, Kans. . 

Hays, Kans 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



Average. 



Year. 



1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1909 



1909 



Oats. 



Bushels 
74.0 
60.9' 
70.3 
24.8 
24.7 
60.9 
57.5 
43.8 
40.0 
58.8 
35.7 
60.3 
35.0 
25.6 
3.8 
15.2 

.0 
21.3 

.0 



$22. 20 
18. 27 
21.09 
7. 44 
7. 41 
18. 27 

17. 25 
13.14 
12. 00 
17.64 
10. 71 

18. 09 
10. 50 

7.68 
1.14 
4. 56 

.00 
6. 39 

.00 



37. 5 11. 25 22. 83 



Barley. 



Bushels 
39.1 
34.4 
49.2 
10.6 
26.0 
32.7 
29.2 
28.3 
29.9 . 
28.1 
40.2 
22.3 
18.5 
22.2 
5.7 
9.2 
.0 
8.1 
.0 



$14. 86 
13.07 
18. 70 
4. 03 
9. 88 
12.43 
11.10 
10. 75 
11.36 
10. 68 
15. 28 
8. 47 
7. 03 
8. 44 
2. 17 
3.50 
.00 
3.08 
.00 



Corn. 



Bushels. 



46.7 



29.8 
43.1 
28.6 
32.6 
20.6 
22.6 
31.7 
22.1 
21.7 



4.0 



67 16. 87 



$18. 21 



11.62 
16. 81 
11.15 
12.71 
8.03 
8. 81 
12. 36 



1.56 



6.63 



Corn 
fodder. 



Pounds. 
7,120 
1,480 
2,000 
1,950 
2,550 
2,800 



Aver- 
age 

value 
per acre 

of oats 
and 

barley. 



Table XIII. — Yields of oats and wheat in bushels per acre and farm value per acre in 
nineteen tests, 1906-1909, inclusive. 

Rotation No. 8. 

Plat A. Oats on fallow land. 

Plat B. Spring wheat on ground plowed early the preceding fall. 
Plat C. Summer tillage. 



Station. 


Year. 


Oats. 


Wheat. 


Average 
value per 

acre of 
oats and 

wheat. 






Bushels. 




Bushels. 








1909 


66.2 


$19. 96 


40.3 


$24. 18 ' 


$22. 02 


Dickinson, N. Dak 


1908 


60.9 


18. 27 


20.5 


12. 30 


15. 29 


Do 


1909 


74.7 


22. 41 


35.0 


21.00 


21.70 


Edgeley, N. Dak 


1907 


30.9 


9. 27 


8.5 


5. 10 


7. 19 


Do 


1908 


20.9 


6. 27 


10.3 


6. 18 


6.22 


Do 


1909 


56.2 


16. 86 


26.6 


15. 96 


16. 41 


Highmore, S. Dak 


1906 


83.4 


25. 02 


25.0 


15. 00 


20. 01 


Do 


1907 


57.8 


17.34 


32.7 


19. 62 


18.48 


Do 


1908 


46.6 


13. 98 


27.5 


16.50 


15. 24 


Bellefourche, S. Dak 


1909 


85.2 


25. 56 


33.2 


19. 92 


22.74 


North Platte, Nebr 


1907 


40.9 


12. 27 


28.3 


16. 98 


14.63 


Do 


1908 


91.5 


27. 45 


31.3 


18. 78 


23.11 


Do 


1909 


.00 


.00 


16.8 


10. 08 


5. 04 


Akron, Colo 


1909 


28.3 


8. 49 


10.9 


6.54 


7.52 


Hays, Kans 


1908 


28.8 


8. 64 


4.2 


2.52 


5. 58 


Garden City, Kans 


1909 


5.8 


1.74 


3.8 


2. 28 


2. 01 


Dalhart, Tex 


1909 


10.0 


3.00 


.0 


.00 


1.50 


Amarillo, Tex 


1908 


33.4 


10. 00 


13.7 


8. 22 


9. 12 


Do 


1909 


25.6 


7.68 


.0 


.00 


3. 84 


Average 




44. 56 


13. 37 


19.4 


11.64 


12.51 







187 



34 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 



Table XIV 



Yields of oats, wheat, and corn in bushels per acre and farm v 
in nineteen tests, 1906-1909, inclusive. 



per acre 



Rotation No. 



Plat A. Oats on spring-plowed ground. 

Plat B. Spring wheat on spring-plowed ground. 

Plat C. Corn on spring-plowed ground. 



Station. 



Year. 



Oats. 



Wheat. 



Corn. 



Corn 
fodder. 



Aver- 
age 

value 
per acre 

of oats 
and 

wheat. 



Judith Basin, Mont... 
Dickinson, N. Dak. . . 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak. 
North Platte, Nebr. . . 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans. . . 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



Average . 



1909 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 



1909 



1909 
1909 
1909 



Bushels. 
70.7 
50.6 
71.3 

5.6 
16.9 
58.7 
56.9 
47.5 
41.6 
62.2 
33.4 
48.2 
27.5 
17.5 
19.1 

2.3 
.0 
22.5 
.0 



34.34 



$21. 21 
15.18 
21.39 
1.68 
5. 07 
17. 61 

17. 07 
14. 25 
12. 48 

18. C6 
10.02 
14. 46 

8. 25 

5. 25 
5. 73 

.69 
.00 

6. 75 
.00 



Bushels 
31.6 
18.7 
30.7 

4.2 
13. 5 
25.8 
25.7 
24.5 
24.2 
26.1 
20.8 
17.5 
16.7 
14.3 

2.2 

2.5 
.0 

5.3 
.0 



16. 03 



S18. 96 
11.22 
18.42 
2.52 
8. 10 
15. 48 
15.42 
14. 70 

14. 52 

15. 66 
12. 48 
10.50 
10. 00 

8. 58 
1.32 
1.50 

.00 
3. 18 

.00 



Bushels. 



43.5 



29.3 
38.1 
27.1 
25.9 
22.7 
18.6 
28.0 
27.1 
25.3 
4.3 



14.3 



9.61 



$16. 97 



11.43 
14. 86 
10. 57 
10.10 
8. 85 
7. 25 
10.92 
10. 57 
9.87 
1.68 
.00 
.00 
5.58 
.00 



Pounds, 
7, 280 
2,800 
1,680 
2,300 
2,600 
3,050 



4,905 
4,830 
3,490 
3,350 
2,280 
4,120 
2,900 
1,200 
2,690 
1,270 



820.08 
13.20 
19.90 
2. 10 
6.59 
16.54 
16. 25 
14.48 
13.50 
17. 16 
11.25 
12.48 
9. 13 
6. 92 
3.52 
1.10 
.00 
4. 96 
.00 



.95 



Tables XV, XVII, and XIX present in convenient form for com- 
parison the yields per acre of each rotation for each test and each 
crop, the average yields for continuous cropping, and the losses or 
gains as compared with crop rotations for each test. 

In Tables XVI, XVIII, and XX the yields are expressed in farm 
values per acre instead of in bushels, Tables XV and XVI, XVII and 
XVIII, XIX and XX being, respectively, companion tables dealing 
with the same crops, but using different terms of expression. 

187 



CROP ROTATION COMPARED WITH CONTINUOUS CROPPING. 



35 



Table XV. — Yield of ivheat, in bushels per acre, in seven 3-year rotations compared 
with continuous cropping. 



Station. 



Year. 



Judith Basin, Mont. . 
Dickinson, N. Dak. . 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak. . . 

Do 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak. 
North Platte, Nebr. . 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans. . 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



Average 

Average from continuous 
cropping 



Gain per acre by rotation 
compared with contin- 
uous cropping 



19C9 
1908 
19C9 
1907 
1908 
19C9 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 



No. 1. 

Wheat 
disked, 
oats fall 
plowed, 
corn fall 
plowed. 



No. 2. 

Wheat 

spring 
plowed, 
oats 

spring 
plowed, 
corn 

spring 
plowed. 



Bushels. 
34.8 
a 35. 8 
a 39.8 
a 16. 7 
a 24.0 
a 33.0 
26.7 
21.5 
24.3 
29.4 
22.3 
28.6 
21.7 
a 25.0 
3.7 
1.0 
.0 
8.3 
.0 



Bushels. 
33.1 
35.0 
39.7 
13.2 
15.8 
32.6 
27.3 
29.0 
25.2 
23.9 
23-7 
24.0 
17.2 
20.8 
1.5 
4.0 
.0 
8.0 
.0 



20.87 
17.39 



19.68 
17.39 



3.48 



No. 3. 

Wheat 

fall 
plowed, 
oats fall 
plowed, 
corn fall 
plowed. 



No. 4. 
Oats 
disked, 
wheat 

fall 
plowed, 
corn fall 
plowed. 



Bushels. 
31.0 
35.0 
37.3 
12.6 
20.8 
32.5 
25.5 
27.2 
25.7 
29.9 
20.7 
27.7 
a 24. 3 
19.2 
3.9 
2.2 
.0 
8.5 
.0 



Bushels. 
33.3 
18.8 
34.3 
10.5 
15.7 
28.5 
25.0 
29.0 
21.8 
29.7 
24.2 
31.3 
16.8 
10.6 
«6.7 
.9 
.0 
13.2 
.0 



No. 5. 
Wheat on 
fallow, 
oats fall 
plowed, 
fallow. 



20.21 18.44 
17.39 j 17.39 



2.82 



Bushels. 
38.0 
33.0 
37.7 
11.8 
19.5 
29.8 
a31.7 
a 33. 3 
a 29.0 
31.4 
26.0 
a 42. 2 
27.2 
18.2 
4.1 
06.6 
a 7. 7 
a 16. 5 
9.5 



23.85 
17.39 



4S 



Station. 



Year. 



1909 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 



Judith Basin, Mont 

Dickinson, N. Dak 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak I 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak 1909 

North Platte, Nebr \ 1907 

Do I 1908 

Do 1909 

Akron, Colo 1909 

Hays, Kans | 1908 

Garden City, Kans 1909 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



Average 

Average from continuous cropping. 



Gain (or loss) per acre by rotation com- 
pared with continuous cropping 



1909 



1909 



No. 9. 
Oats 

spring 
plowed, 

wheat 

spring 
plowed, 
corn 

spring 
plowed. 



Bushels. 
31.6 
18.7 
30.7 

4.2 
13.5 
25.8 
25.7 
24. 5 
24.2 
26.1 
20.8 
17.5 
16.7 
14.3 

2.2 

2.5 
.0 

5.3 
.0 



Average 
yield. 



Bushels. 
34.59 
28.11 
36.36 
11.07 
17.09 
29.73 
26.70 
28. 17 
25.34 
29. C9 
23.71 
28.94 
20.10 
17.00 
3.76 
3.00 
1.10 
10.50 
1.36 



Yield 
from con- 
tinuous 
cropping. 



16.01 
17.39 



19.78 
17.39 



2.39 



Bushels. 
33.0 
24.3 
26.8 
4.1 
13.3 
28.3 



28.8 
26-3 
23.8 
24-5 
22.7 
23.0 
14.3 
1.2 
2.1 
.0 
17.0 
.0 



17.39 



Average of all rota- 
tions compared 
with continuous 
cropping. 



Gain. 



Bushels. 
1.59 
3.81 
9.56 
6.97 
3.79 
1.43 



5. 29 
"6.' 24 



2.70 
2.56 
.90 
1.10 



1.36 



187 



a Rotation giving the best yield of wheat. 



36 CULTIVATION METHODS AND BOTATIONS FOE GEEAT PLAINS. 



Table XVI. — Farm value of wheat, in dollars and cents per acre, in seven 3-year rotations 
compared ivith continuous cropping. 



Station. 



Year. 



Judith Basin, Mont.. 
Dickinson, N. Dak. . 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak. . . . 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak... 

Do 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak. 
North Platte, Nebr. . 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans. . 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



No. 1. 

Wheat 
disked, 
oats fall 
plowed, 
corn fall 
plowed. 



1908 
19C9 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 
1908 
19G9 
1907 
1908 
19C9 
1909 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 



Average. 



$23.88 
21.84 
23.88 
10.02 
14. 40 
19.80 
16.02 
12.90 
14.58 
17.64 
13.38 
17.16 
13.02 
15.00 
2.22 
.60 
.00 
4.98 
.00 



No; 2. 

Wheat 

spring 
plowed, 
oats 

spring 
plowed, 
corn 

spring 
plowed. 



$19.86 
21.00 
23.82 
7.92 
9.48 
19.56 
16.38 
17.40 
15.12 
14.34 
14.22 
14.40 
10.32 
12. 48 
.90 
2.40 
.00 
4.80 
.00 



No. 3. 
Wheat 

fall 
plowed, 
oats fall 
plowed, 
corn fall 
plowed. 



No. 4. 
Oats 
disked, 
wheat 

fall 
plowed, 
corn fall 
plowed. 



No. 5. 
Wheat or. 

fallow, 
oats fall 
plowed, 

fallow. 



11.81 



$18.60 J 
21-00 I 
22.38 

7.56 I 
12.48 
19.50 
15.30 
16.32 
15.42 
17.94 
12.42 
16.62 
14. 58 
11.52 

2. 34 

1.32 
.00 

5.10 
.00 



$19.98 
11.28 
2J.58 
6.30 
9.42 
17.10 
15.00 
17.40 
13.08 
17.82 
14.52 
18.78 
10.08 
6.36 
4.02 
.54 
.00 
7.92 
.00 



12.13 



11.06 



$20. SO 
19.80 
22.62 
7.08 
11.70 
17.88 
19. C2 
19.98 
17.40 
18.84 
15.60 
25.32 
16.32 
10.92 
2.46 
3.96 
4.62 
9.90 
5.70 



14.31 



No. 8. 
Oats on 
fallow, 

wheat 

fall 
plowed, 
fallow. 



824.18 
12.30 
21.00 
5.10 
6.18 
15.96 
15.00 
19.62 
16.50 
19.92 
16.98 
18.78 
10.08 
6-54 
2.52 
2.28 
.00 
8.22 
.00 



11.64 



Station. 



Judith Basin, Mont. . 
Dickinson, N. Dak. . . 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak... 

Do 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak. 
North Platte, Nebr.. 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans. . . 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



Average. 



Year. 



1909 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
19C8 
1909 
19C9 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 



No. 9. 
Oats 

spring 
plowed, 

wheat 

spring 
plowed, 
corn 

spring 
plowed. 



$18.96 
11.22 
18.42 
2. 52 
8.10 
15.48 
15. 42 
14.70 
14.52 
15.66 
12. 48 
10.50 
10.00 
8.58 
1.33 
1.50 
.00 
3. 18 
.00 



61 



Average 
yield. 



820, 
16. 
21 
6 

10. 
17. 
16 
16, 
15. 
17. 
14 
17, 
12. 
10. 

2. 

1 



a 11. 87 



Yield 
from con- 
tinuous 
cropping. 



Average of all rota- 
tions compared 
with continuous 
cropping. 



Gain. 



$19.80 
14.58 
16.08 
2.46 
7.98 
16.98 



SO. 95 
2.29 
5. 73 
4.18 
2.27 
.92 



Loss. 



17.28 
15.78 
14.28 
14.70 
13.62 
13.80 
8.58 

.72 
1.26 

.00 
10.20 

.00 



3.17 



3.71 



1.62 
1.54 
.54 



.SI 



M0. 45 



SO. 38 
.58 



.47 
'i~74 



a Average of 19 crops. 
187 



b Average of 18 crops. 



CHOP ROTATION COMPARED WITH CONTINUOUS CROPPING. 



37 



Table XVII. — Yield of oats, in bushels per acre, in nine 3-year rotations compared with 

continuous cropping. 



Station. 



Year. 



No 1 I No - 2 - 

fife 

plowed- s ? rhl S 



corn 
fall 
plowed. 



Judith Basin, Mont. . 
Dickinson, N. Dak. . . 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak. . . 

Do 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak. 
North Platte, Nebr.. 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans. . . 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



Average 

Average from continuous crop- 
Ping 



Gain per acre by rotation com- 
pared with continuous crop- 
Ping 



19C8 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 



1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 



plowed, 
corn 
spring 
plowed. 



Bush. 
68.1 
35.3 
64.4 
25.9 
26.3 
64.0 
45.3 
46-9 
28.8 
55.6 
26.9 
60.3 



23.1 
25.6 
28.5 
3.0 
.0 
28.1 
10.0 



35.06 
30.16 



4.90 



Bush. 
63.1 
52.5 
60.6 
29.7 
20.6 
63.7 
38.9 
41.6 
36.9 
42.5 
32.3 
36-9 
28.1 
18.3 
26.0 
1.3 

.0 
23.4 

.0 



32. 44 
30.16 



No. 3. 
Wheat 

fall 
plowed, 

oats 

fall 
plowed, 
corn 

fall 
plowed. 



Bush. 
61.5 
38.9 
62.5 
30.5 
16.9 

a 66. 5 
47.2 
45.3 
29.7 
53.6 
30.6 
60.3 
18.3 
18.8 
20.1 
.0 
.0 
27.5 
17.8 



34.00 
30.16 



No. 4. 

Oats 
disked, 
wheat 

fall 
plowed 

corn 

fall 
plowed 



Bush. 

a 74.1 
a 67. 2 
72.5 
28.8 
23.4 
03. 7 
61-6 
48.4 
35.6 
75.0 
40.6 
54.3 
22.5 
21.3 
16.0 
2.9 
.0 
22.8 
.0 



38.46 
30.16 



8.30 



No. 5. 

Wheat 
fallow, 

oats 

fall 
plowed, 
fallow. 



No. 6. 
Barley 
disked, 
oats 
fall 
plowed, 
corn 
fall 
plowed. 



No. 7. 

Oats 
spring 

plowed, 
barley 
spring 

plowed, 
corn 
spring 

plowed. 



Bush. 
67.1 
39.4 
63.8 
27.5 

a 33. 4 
63.7 
46.6 
55.0 
27.8 
51.6 
31.2 
54.7 
19.1 
16.7 
22.8 
3.3 
.0 
24.4 
15.3 



34.92 
30.16 



Bush. 
57.8 
44.7 
61.9 

a 32. 5 
15.9 
60.3 
53.8 
49.4 
36.3 
65.6 
23.1 
49.1 
19.7 
20.8 

a 35. 5 
3.1 
.0 
31.3 
.0 



34.78 
30.16 



Bush. 
74.0 
60.9 
70.3 
24.8 
24.7 
60.9 
57.5 
43.8 
40.0 
58.8 
35.7 
60.3 

a 35.0 
25.6 
15.2 
3.8 
.0 
21.3 
.0 



37.5a 
30.16 



7.34 



Station. 



Year. 



No. 8. 
Oats on 

fallow, 

wheat 

fall 
plowed, 

fallow. 



No. 9. 
Oats 

spring 
plowed, 

wheat 

spring 
plowed, 
corn 

spring 
plowed. 



Average 
yield. 



Yield 
from con- 
tinuous 
cropping. 



Average of all 
ro tations 
c o mpared 
with con- 
tinuous crop- 
ping. 



Gain. Loss 



Judith Basin, Mont. . 
Dickinson, N. Dak. . . 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak... 

Do 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak. 
North Platte, Nebr.. 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans. . 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



1907 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 



Bush. 
66.2 
60.9 
a 74. 7 
30.9 
20.9 
56.2 
a 83. 4 
a 57. 8 
a 46.6 
a 85. 2 
a 40.9 
a91.5 



a 28. 3 
28.8 
a5.8 
a 10.0 
a 33. 4 
a 25. 6 



70.7 
50.6 
71.3 

5.6 
16.9 
58.7 
56.9 
47.5 
41.6 
62.2 
33.4 
48.2 
27.5 
17.5 
19.1 

2.3 
.0 
22.5 
.0 



Average from continuous crop- 
Ping 



44.58 
30.16 



34.34 
30.16 



Gain per acre by rotation com- 
pared with continuous crop- 
Ping 



4.18 



Bush. 
65.8 
50.0 
66.9 
26.2 
22.1 
62.0 
54.6 
48.4 
35.9 
61.1 
32.7 
59.6 
21.5 
21.4 
23.5 
2.8 
1.1 
26.1 
7.7 



Bush. 
75.3 
48.4 
55.9 
21.3 
16.9 
• 57.5 



Bush. 



Bush. 



1.4 
11.0 
4.9 
5.2 
4.5 



45.3 
34.4 
48.8 
30.0 
34.4 
31.3 
21.1 
1.3 
1.0 
.0 
20.0 
.0 



3.1 
1.5 

12.3 
2.7 

25.1 



.3 
21.2 
1.8 
1.0 
6.1 
7.7 



36.27 
30.16 



187 



a Rotation giving the best yield of oats. 



38 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 



Table XVIII. — Farm value of oats, in dollars and cents per acre, in nine 3-year rotations 
compared with continuous cropping. 



Station. 



Judith Basin, Mont . . 
Dickinson, N. Dak. . . 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak.. . 

Do 

Do 

BeUefourche, S. Dak. 
North Platte, Nebr.. 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans. . . 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



Year. 



No. 1. 

Wheat 
disked, 

oats 

fall 
plowed, 
corn 

fell 
plowed. 



Average. 



1909 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 



$20. 43 
10.59 
19.32 
7.77 

7. 89 
19. 20 
13. 59 
14.07 

8. 64 
16. 68 

8. 07 
18. 09 
6. 93 
7. 68 
8. 55 
.90 
.00 
8. 43 
3.00 



10. 52 



No. 2. 

Wheat 

spring 
plowed, 
oats 

spring 
plowed; 
corn 

spring 
plowed 



$18. 93 
15. 75 
18.18 

8. 91 
6. 18 

19.11 
11.64 
12. 48 
11.07 
12. 75 

9. 69 
11.07 

8.43 
5. 49 
7. 80 
.39 
.00 
7.02 
.00 



9. 73 



No. 3. 
Wheat 

fell 
plowed , 

oats 

fall 
plowed, 
corn 

fall 
plowed . 



$18. 45 
11.67 

18. 75 
9.15 
5.07 

19. 95 
14.16 
13.59 

8. 91 
16.08 
9. 18 
18. 09 
5. 49 
5. 64 
6. 03 
.00 
.00 
8. 25 
5. 34 



10. 20 



No. 4. 
Oats 
disked, 
wheat 

fall 
plowed 
corn 
fall 
plowed 



822. 23 
20. 16 
21.74 
8. 64 
7. 02 
19.11 
18. 48 
14.52 
10. 68 
22.50 
12. 18 
16.29 
6. 75 
6. 39 
4.80 
.87 
.00 
6. 84 
.00 



11.54 



No. 5. 

Wheat 

on fal- 
low, 
oats 
fall 
plowed, 

fallow. 



§20. 13 
11.82 
19.14 
8. 25 
10.02 
19.11 
13.98 
16. 50 

8. 34 
15.48 

9. 36 
16. 41 

5.73 
5. 01 
6. 84 



No. 6. 
Barley 
disked, 

oats 

fall 
plowed, 

corn 

fall 
plowed. 



.00 
7. 32 
4. 59 



10. 47 



Station. 



Year. 



No. 8. 
Oats on 
fallow, 
wheat fall 
plowed, 
fallow. 



No. 9. 
Oats 

spring 
plowed, 

wheat 

spring 
plowed, 
corn 

spring 
plowed. 



Average 
yield. 



Yield 
from con- 
tinuous 
cropping. 



Judith Basin, Mont. . 
Dickinson, N. Dak. . 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak... 

Do 

Do 

BeUefourche, S. Dak 
North Platte, Nebr.. 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans. . 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



Average. 



1909 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 



$19. 86 
18. 27 
22. 41 
9. 27 
6. 27 
16. 86 
25. 02 
17. 34 
13.98 
25. 56 
12. 27 
27. 45 
.00 
8. 49 
8. 64 
1.74 
3.00 
10. 02 
7. 68 



$21.21 
15. 18 
21.39 
1.68 
5. 07 
17. 61 
17. 07 
14. 25 
12. 48 
18. 66 
10. 02 
14. 46 
8. 25 

5. 25 
5. 73 

.69 
.00 

6. 75 
.00 



$20. 09 
15.01 
20. 07 
7.87 
6.63 
18.59 
16. 37 
14. 52 
10. 78 
18. 34 
9. 82 
17.19 
6. 44 
6. 43 
7.07 
.85 
.33 
7. 82 
2.29 



13.37 



10. 30 



a 10. 87 



$22. 59 
14.52 
16. 77 
6. 39 
5. 07 
17.25 



13.59 
10. 32 
14. 64 
9. 00 
10.32 
9. 39 
6. 33 
.39 
.30 
.00 
6. 00 
.00 



6 9.05 6 1.52 



a Average of 19 crops. 

187 



b Average of 18 crops. 



CROP ROTATION COMPARED WITH CONTINUOUS CROPPING. 



39 



Table XIX. — Yield of barley, in bushels per acre, in two 3-year rotations compared ivith 

continuous cropping. 



Station. 



Judith Basin, Mont. . 
Dickinson, N. Dak. . 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak... 
"Do 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak. 
North Platte, Nebr.. 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden Citv, Kans. . 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



Average. 



Year. 



1909 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 



No. 6. 

Barley 
disked, 
oats fall 
plowed, 
corn fall 
plowed. 



Bushels. 
42.7 
45.6 
53.8 
18.3 
31.9 
33.1 
37.7 
25.0 
30.0 
47. 1 
30.6 
24.9 
21.5 
24.9 
12.3 

5.1 
.0 

7.5 
.0 



No. 7. 
Corn 

spring 
plowed, 

barley 

spring 
plowed, 
corn 

spring 
plowed. 



25.9 



Bushels. 
39.1 
34.4 
49.2 
10.6 
26.0 
32.7 
29.2 
28.3 
29.9 
28.1 
40.2 
22.3 
18.5 
22.2 
9.2 
5.7 
.0 
8.1 
.0 



22. 83 



yield 



Bushels. 
40.9 
40.0 
51.5 
14.5 
28.9 
32.9 
33.5 
26.6 
29.9 
37.6 
35.4 
23.6 
20.0 
23.6 
10.8 

5.4 
.0 

7.8 
.0 



Yield 
from con- 
tinuous 
cropping. 



Bushels. 
45.2 
33.5 
39.8 
10.2 
25.0 
27.0 



30.2 
29.8 
23.8 
39.0 
19.6 



19.7 
5.8 
2.4 

.0 
7.9 

.0 



24.4 



21.1 



Average of all 
rotations com- 
pared with 
continuous 
cropping. 



Gain. 



Bushels. 



6.5 
11.7 
4.3 



.1 

13.8 



4,0 



3.9 
5.0 
3.0 
.0 



3.0 



Table XX. — Farm value of barley, in dollars and cents per acre, in two 3-year rotations 
compared with continuous cropping. 



Station. 



Judith Basin, Mont. . 
Dickinson, N. Dak.. 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak. . . 

Do 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak. 
North Platte, Nebr.. 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans.. 

Delhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



Average . 



Year. 



1909 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 



No. 6. 

Barley 
disked, 
oats fall 
plowed , 
corn fall 
plowed. 



S16. 23 
17. 33 
20.44 
6.95 
12. 12 
12. 58 
14. 33 
9.50 
11.40 
17.90 
11.63 
9. 46 
8. 17 
9.46 
4.67 
1.94 
.00 
2. 85 
.00 



9. 84 



No. 7. 

Oats 
spring 
plowed, 
barley 
spring 
plowed, 
corn 
spring 
plowed. 



§14.86 
13. 07 
18. 70 
4.03 
9. 88 
12. 43 
11.10 
10. 75 
11.36 
10.68 
15. 28 
8. 47 
7.03 
8.44 
3.50 
2. 17 
.00 
3.08 
.00 



8. 67 



Average 
yield. 



$15. 54 
15. 20 
19. 57 
5. 49 
11.00 
12. 51 
12. 71 
10.13 
11.38 
14. 29 
13.45 
8. 97 
7.60 
8.95 
4. 08" 
2. 06 
.00 
2. 96 
.00 



Value 
of con- 
tinuous 
cropping. 



$17. 17 
12. 73 
15. 12 
3.88 
9. 50 
10. 26 



9.26 



11.47 
11.32 

9.04 
14.82 

7. 44 



2. 20 
.91 
.00 

3.00 
.00 



8. 02 



Average of all 
rotations com- 
pared with 
continuous 
cropping. 



Gain. 



$2. 47 
4. 45 
1.61 
1.50 
2. 25 



.06 
5. 25 



1.53 



1.47 
1.88 
1.15 
.00 



. 00 



1.13 



187 



40 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOE GREAT PLAINS. 



Table XXI is a summary of preceding tables and shows that the 
average yields obtained from all rotations were considerably higher 
than from continuous cropping by ordinary methods. 

As we have already shown that neither summer tillage and alternate 
cropping nor continuous cropping with moisture-conservation meth- 
ods gave as good net results as continuous cropping by ordinary 
methods, we will continue to use the yields obtained by ordinary 
methods as a basis for comparison. This table shows that the aver- 
age yields for all tests of all rotations were better than the continuous 
cropping yields for all three crops of wheat, oats, and barley. It also 
shows that the averages of all tests of each rotation taken separately 
were better for all crops, with one exception, than continuous crop- 
ping, the one exception noted being wheat in rotation No. 9, where it 
was sown on spring-plowed land after oats. The preceding tables 
show these same facts in more detail. It would seem, then, that our 
evidence was quite conclusive as to the superiority of crop rotation 
over any of the other methods which have so far been discussed. 



Table XXI. — Summary of foregoing tables, showing average yields per acre and average 

farm values per acre. 

CONTINUOUS CROPPING AND ALTERNATE CROPPING AND SUMMER TILLAGE. 



Plat and cropping method. 


Wheat. 


Oats. 


Barley. 


C or D. Summer tillage and alternate cropping (1 crop 


Bush. 




Bush. 




Bush. 




in 2 years) 


22.5 


$13. 50 


44.1 


$13. 23 


30.7 


$11.67 


B. Continuous cropping by moisture-conservation 














methods 


16.5 


9.90 


30.5 


9.15 


22.9 


8.70 


A. Continuous cropping by ordinary methods 


17.4 


10.44 


30.2 


9.06 


21.1 


8.02 



ROTATIONS. 



Crop. 


No. 1. 


No. 2. 


No. 3. 


No. 4. 


No. 5. 


No. 6. 


No. 7. 


No. 8. 


No. 9. 


Wheat IS!;;" 


20. 87 
$12. 52 

35. 06 
$10. 52 


19. 68 
$11.81 
32. 44 
$9. 73 


20.21 
$12. 13 

34.00 
$10. 20 


18.44 
$11.06 

38. 46 
$11. 54 


23.85 
$14.31 

34. 92 
$10. 47 






19.40 
$11.64 

44.58 
$13. 37 


16.01 
$9.61 
34. 34 
$10. 30 


°»* P s u h e e '!:: 


34. 78 
$10. 43 
25.90 
$9.84 


37.50 
$11.25 
22.83 
$8. 67 


Barley., {" \ 

































Item of comparison. 


Wheat. 


Oats. 


Barley. 


Average vield and value per acre from rotations 

Average increase in yield compared with continuous 
cropping by ordinary methods. '. 


Bush. 
19.8 

2.4 


$11.87 
1.43 


Bush. 
36.3 

6.1 


$10. 89 
1.83 


Bush. 
24.4 

3.3 


$9.26 
1.24 



187 



RELATIVE FARM VALUE OF CROPS. 



41 



COMPARISON OF THE RELATIVE FARM VALUE OF CROPS OF WHEAT, 
OATS, AND BARLEY PRODUCED BY EACH OF THE NINE ROTA- 
TIONS AND BY CONTINUOUS CROPPING. 

THE TABULAR SUMMARY. 

In Tables XXII and XXIII have been brought together in con- 
densed form much of the data contained in the foregoing tables. 
Table XXII gives the farm value per acre for wheat and oats or 
barley and oats for each rotation. The figures given in the respective 
columns of Table XXIII for each rotation were obtained by subtract- 
ing the corresponding figures for the farm values of each test of 
continuous cropping, as given in Table V, from the farm values for 
each test of each rotation as given in Table XXII. In these com- 
parisons the average farm value per acre for wheat and oats has 
been used for rotations Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9, and for barley and 
oats in rotations Nos. 6 and 7 — the basis of valuation, as in all other 
tables, being 60 cents for wheat, 30 cents for oats, and 38 cents for 
barley. The second column from the right-hand side of the table 
gives the loss or gain in dollars per acre of the best rotation, except 
Nos. 5 and 8, as compared with continuous cropping. The reason 
for excepting Nos. 5 and 8 is that they are both fallow rotations and 
are therefore not strictly comparable with the other rotations of 
this series where a crop is grown every year. This best rotation is 
printed in black-faced type so as to be readily recognized at a glance. 

At the foot of each column is given the average for all tests of the 
respective rotations. Just below these averages are given their 
equivalents in bushels per acre of wheat, oats, and barley. It must 
be constantly borne in mind that the farm values are all based upon 
wheat at 60 cents, oats at 30 cents, and barley at 38 cents. These 
prices are at least 50 per cent too low to meet present price conditions. 
In order, therefore, to meet these conditions, all the farm values 
expressed in dollars and cents should be multiplied by 1.5, while 
bushels per acre would, of course, remain the same. 

We find from consulting the figures given in this table that all the 
rotations except No. 9 gave better average results for all the tests 
than continuous cropping. We also find that the average results 
for all rotations in each test were better than continuous cropping 
except at Judith Basin, Mont., 1909; North Platte, Nebr., 1909; and 
Amarillo, Tex., 1908. 

At Judith Basin the crops were all grown on virgin prairie, broken 
in 1907 and first cropped in 1908. The season of 1909 was especially 
favorable, so that very large crops were raised by all methods. The 
slight difference in favor of continuous cropping was therefore of 

187 



42 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 

little or no significance. At North Platte the results were very 
slightly in favor of rotation in 1907 and very markedly so in 1908. 
The average results of the three years were therefore in favor of rota- 
tion, so the results of 1909 can not be considered of great significance. 
They were due to the fact that a severe freeze about the first of May, 
followed by high winds, injured the crops on those fields that had 
had the best tillage and had consequently produced the most vigorous 
growth more than it did those on the poorer tilled fields where the 
growth was less advanced. This is not an infrequent occurrence 
throughout the Great Plains, but it can not be used as a reason for 
practicing continuous cropping instead of crop rotation. The crops 
at Amarillo, Tex., were so near a practical failure that the fact that 
continuous cropping gave slightly better results can not be considered 
of great significance. It may therefore be safely asserted that the 
net results of all the tests were strongly in favor of rotation. This 
becomes more apparent when we consider that the best rotation in 
the test gave better results than continuous cropping in all except 
three instances, and the average results showed a difference in favor 
of rotation amounting to $2.38 per acre; or calculated in bushels of 
wheat, oats, and barley, 3.91, 7.93, and 6.26 bushels per acre, 
respectively. 

At first sight it might appear that there was little uniformity in 
the rotation giving the best average results in all the tests or in the 
ones giving the best results at any given station where two or more 
years 7 results have been obtained. A more careful consideration 
will show, however, that some general uniformity in results is indi- 
cated. In just half the tests either rotations Nos. 1 or 6 gave the 
best results. These two rotations are identical except that in No. 1 
wheat was sown on disked corn stubble and in No. 6 barley was sub- 
stituted for the wheat. The other barley rotation, No. 7, gave the 
best results in three tests. Nos. 3 and 4 gave the best results in two 
tests each, while No. 2 gave the best results in only one test. 

Rotation No. 9 failed to give the best results in any test. This 
fact is very significant, as it brings to notice an important feature of 
crop rotation. This is, that one sequence may give the best results 
at a station when the plowing is done at one time of year, while the 
opposite sequence gives the best results when the plowing is done at 
another time. It seems that the oats-wheat-corn sequence makes a 
bad combination with spring plowing at all the stations. It seems 
likely that further investigation will show that there are other com- 
binations which are to be avoided. 

187 



RELATIVE FARM VALUE OE CROPS. 



43 



When we come to a consideration of the rotation which has given 
the best results at those stations where two or more tests have been 
made, we find less difficulty in reconciling the seeming diversity of 
results. 

At Dickinson, N. Dak., rotation No. 1 gave the best results in 1908 
and No. 2 in 1909. A change of 60 cents in the relative farm values 
per acre in 1909 would have made No. 2 the best both years. It is 
quite probable that a rotation of wheat on disked corn stubble, oats 
on spring plowing, and corn on spring plowing would give better 
results than either No. 1 or No. 2 at this station. 

At Edgeley, N. Dak., rotation No. 1 gave the best results in 1907 
and 1908, while in 1909 No. 3 was best. The difference between No. 
1 and No. 3 in 1909 was, however, only 23 cents per acre. These 
two rotations differ only in that in No. 1 the corn stubble is disked 
and in No. 3 it is plowed. It may therefore be inferred that No. 1 
will give the best average results at this station. 

At Highmore, S. Dak., rotation No. 6 gave the best results one 
year and No. 7 the next. These are both barley rotations. It may 
therefore be inferred that barley is a profitable crop there, and that 
neither the sequence nor the time of plowing is of great importance 
in a 3-year rotation of corn, oats, and barley. 

At North Platte, Nebr., a different rotation gave the best results 
in each of the three tests. The results in the 1909 tests were so affected 
by adverse weather conditions in May as to have little significance. 
In 1907 No. 4 and in 1908 No. 1 gave the best results. These two 
rotations differ only in sequence. In both No. 1 and No. 4 grain was 
sown on disked corn stubble, and the corn and other small-grain 
crop were on fall plowing. It would therefore seem that at this sta- 
tion disked corn stubble for one of the small-grain crops and fall 
plowing for corn and other small-grain crops are the best methods 
of preparation and that sequence is of relatively small importance. 

At Amarillo the crops all suffered so severely from drought in 1909 
that the discrepancies in the results of the two years are not sig- 
nificant. 

Comparisons of the several rotations will be made in discussing the 
tables which follow. 

187 



44 CULTIVATION METHODS AND KOTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 



Table XXII. — Average farm value, in dollars and cents, per acre, of nine 3-year rotations. 



Station. 


Year. 


No. 1. 

Wheat 

disked, 

oats fall 

plowed, 

corn fall 

plowed. 


No. 2. 

Wheat 

spring 
plowed, 
oats 

spring 
plowed, 
corn 

spring 
plowed. 


No. 3. 

Wheat 

fall 
plowed, 
oats fall 
plowed, 
corn fall 
plowed. 


No. 4. 

Wheat 
on fallow, 

wheat 

fall 
plowed, 
corn fall 
plowed. 


No. 5. 

Wheat 
on fallow, 
oats fall 
plowed, 

fallow. 


No. 6. 

Barley 
disked, 
oats fall 
plowed, 
corn fall 
plowed. 


Judith Basin, Mont 

Dickinson, N. Dak 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak 

Do - 

Do - 

Bellefourche, S. Dak 

\Tnrt>i "PI otto Wphr 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 

Average 


1909 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 


$20. 66 
16.03 
21.60 

8.90 
11.14 
19.50 
14.81 
13.48 
11.61 
17.16 
10. 73 
17^62 

9.98 
11.34 

5.39 
.75 
.00 

6.71 

1.50 


$19. 40 
18.37 
21.00 
8.42 
7.83 
19.33 
14.01 
14.94 
13.10 
13.55 
11.96 
12! 73 
9.37 
8.99 
4.35 
1.39 
.00 
5.91 
.00 


$18. 53 
16. 33 
20. 57 
8.35 
8.78 
19.72 
14.73 
14. 96 
12.16 
17.01 
10 80 
17! 36 
10.04 
8.58 
4. 19 
.66 
.00 
6.67 
2. 67 


$21. 11 
15.72 
21.17 
7.47 
8.22 
18. 10 
16. 74 
15.96 
11.88 
20.16 
13 35 
17! 54 
8.41 
6. 38 
4. 41 
.70 
.00 
7.38 
.00 


$21. 47 
15.81 
20.88 
7.66 
10.86 
18.50 
16. 50 
18.24 
12. 87 
17. 16 
12. 48 
20^87 
11.02 
7.96 
4.65 
2. 48 
2.31 
8/61 
5.14 


$16. 79 
15. 37 
19.50 
8. 35 
8. 45 
15. 33 
15.24 
12. 16 
11.14 
18.79 
n 9Q 
y . zs 

12.09 
7.04 
7.85 
7.66 
1.44 

.00 
6. 12 

.00 


11.52 


10. 77 


11.16 


11.30 


12. 39 


10. 14 


Station. 


Year. 


No. 7. 
Oats 

spring 
plowed, 

barley 

spring 
plowed, 
corn 

spring 
plowed. 


No. 8. 
Oats on 

fallow, 

wheat 

fall 
plowed, 

fallow. 


No. 9. 
Oats 

spring 
plowed, 

wheat 

spring 
plowed, 
corn 

spring 
plowed. 


Average 
yield. 


Yield 
from con- 
tinuous 
cropping. 


Gain or 
loss of 
rotation 
compared 
with con- 
tinuous 
cropping. 


Judith Basin, Mont : . . . 

Dickinson, N. Dak 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do *. 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak 


1909 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 


$18. 53 
15.67 
19.89 
5.74 
8.65 
15.35 
14. 17 
11.95 
11. 68 
14.16 
12. 99 
13.28 
8. 78 
8. 06 
4.03 
1.65 
.00 
4. 73 
.00 


$22. 02 
15.29 
21.70 
7.19 
6.22 
16. 41 
20.01 
18.48 
15. 24 
22.74 
14. 63 
23.11 
5.04 
7.52 
5.58 
2.01 
1.50 
9.12 
3.84 


$20. 08 
13.20 
19.90 
2.10 
6.59 
16. 54 
16. 25 
14. 48 
13.50 
17.16 
11. 25 
12.48 
9.13 
6.92 
3.52 
1.10 
.00 
4.96 
.00 


$19. 84 
15. 75 
20.69 
7.13 
8.53 
17. 64 
15. 83 
14 96 
12.58 
17.54 
11. 94 
16. 34 
8. 76 
8. 18 
4. 86 
1.35 
.42 
6. 68 
1.46 


$20. 91 
14. 34 
16.32 
4.59 
6.70 
16.36 


-$1.07 
1.41 
4.37 
2.54 
1.83 
1.28 


Do 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak 

"\T/"*f+Vi I) 1 o t ) n \fnkr 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 

Average 


14.79 
12.55 
13.88 
11. 86 
11.29 
11.10 
7.34 
.72 
.74 
.00 
7.30 
.00 


17 
.03 

3.66 
. 08 

5. 05 

- 2.35 

.84 
4. 14 
.61 
.42 

- .62 
1.46 


9.97 


12.51 


9.95 


a 11. 08 


6 9.49 


1.35 



a Average of 19 crops. b Average of 18 crops. 

187 



RELATIVE FAEM VALUE OF CROPS. 



45 



Table XXIII. — Gain or loss of each rotation for each test as compared with continuous 
cropping by ordinary methods. 

[The plus sign indicates gain in favor of rotation and the minus sign loss— in terms of dollars and cents 
per acre for wheat and oats or barley and oats in each rotation. The best rotation, excepting Nos. 5 
and 8, each of which has one fallow year and is therefore not strictly comparable with the others, is 
printed in black-faced type.] 



Station. 



Year. 



No. 1. 

Wheat 
disked, 
oats fall 
plowed, 
corn fall 
plowed. 



No.2. 

Wheat 

spring 
plowed, 
oats 

spring 
plowed, 
corn 

spring 
plowed. 



No. 3. 

Wheat 

fall 
plowed , 
oats fall 
plowed, 
corn fall 
plowed. 



No. 4. 
oats 
disked, 
wheat fall 
plowed , 
corn fall 
plowed. 



No. 5. 

Wheat 

fallow, 
oats fall 
plowed, 

fallow. 



No. 6. 

Barley 
disked, 
oats fall 
plowed, 
corn fall 
plowed. 



Judith Basin, Mont.. 
Dickinson, N. Dak. . 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak... 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak. 
North Platte, Nebr.. 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans. . 

Dalhart,Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 



Average . 



Equal to wheat at 60 cents bu. 

Equal to oats at 30 cents do. 

Equal to barley at 38 cents... do. 



-$0. 54 
+ 1.49 
+ 5.18 
+ 4.47 
+ 4.62 
+ 2.38 

- 1.95 

- 1.44 
+ 2.70 

- 1.12 
+ 5.65 

- 1.62 
+ 3.88 
+ 4.83 

- .03 
+ .00 

- 1.39 
+ 1.50 



+ 1. 



2.65 
5. 30 
4.19 



-$1.80 
+ 3.82 
+ 4.58 
+ 4.00 
+ 1.31 
+ 2.22 

- .49 
+ .05 

- .91 
+ .11 
+ .76 

- 2.22 
+ 1.54 
+ 3.80 
+ .61 
+ .00 

- 2.19 
+ .00 



-$2. 67 
+ 1.78 
+ 4.15 
+ 3.93 
+ 2.26 
+ 2.61 

- .47 

- .89 
+ 2.55 

- 1.05 
+ 5.39 

- 1.55 
+ 1.13 
+ 3.64 

- .12 
+ .00 

- 1.43 
+ 2.67 



-$0.09 

+ 1.17 
+ 4.75 
+ 3.05 
+ 1.70 
+ .99 
+ .53 

- 1.17 
+ 5.70 
+ 1.50 
+ 5.57 

- 3.18 

- 1.07 
3.86 

.08 
.00 
.72 
.00 



+ 



+ .84 



+ 1.22 



+ 1.25 



+$0. 27 


+ 


1.20 


+ 


4. 46 


+ 


3.21 


+ 


4.34 


+ 


1.39 


+ 


2.81 




.18 


+ 


2.70 


+ 


.63 


+ 


8.90 




.57 


+ 


.51 


+ 


4. 10 


+ 


1.70 


+ 


2.31 


+ 


.51 


+ 


5.14 


+ 2.41 



1.40 
2.80 
2.21 



2.03 
4.06 
3.21 



2.08 
4.16 
3.29 



4.00 
8.00 
6.35 



-$3. 09 
+ 1.75 
+ 3.56 
+ 3.22 
+ 1.17 
+ 1.49 

- .37 
+ .32 
+ 6.95 

- 2.63 
+ 3.21 

- 2.35 
+ .94 
+ 6.37 
+ .84 
+ .00 
+ 1.62 
+ .00 



+ 1.32 



2.20 
4.40 
3.47 



Station. 



Judith Basin, Mont. 
Dickinson, N. Dak.. 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak... 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak. 
North Platte, Nebr.. 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans... 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



Average. 



Equal to wheat at 60 cents bu. 

Equal to oats at 30 cents do. 

Equal to barley at 38 cents do. 



Year. 



1909 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 



No. 7. 
Oats spring 
plowed, 
barley 
spring 
plowed, 
corn spring 
plowed. 



$1.35 
2.05 
3.95 
.61 
1.37 
1.60 
.58 
.86 
2.32 
1.08 
4.40 
.62 
1.15 
2. 74 
1.05 
.00 
.23 
.00 



+ 1.16 



1.93 
3.87 
3.06 



No. 8. 
Oats fal- 
low, wheat 
fall plowed, 
fallow. 



+$0. 82 
+ .74 
+ 5.28 
+ 2.77 

- .30 

- .70 
+ 3.05 
+ 2.19 
+ 8.28 
+ 2.78 
+ 11.14 

- 6.55 
+ .07 
+ 5.03 
+ 1.23 
+ 1.50 
+ 1.02 
+ 3.84 



+ 2.34 



3.89 
7.80 
6.16 



No. 9. 
Oats spring 
plowed, 
wheat 
spring 
plowed, 
corn spring 
plowed. 



-$1.12 
.- 1.35 
+ 3.48 

- 2.32 
+ .07 

- .57 

- .95 
+ .45 
+ 2.70 

- .60 
+ .51 

- 2.46 

- .53 
+ 2.97 
+ .32 
+ .00 

- 3.14 
+ .00 



- .14 



0.23 
1.46 
1.37 



Average 
gain or loss 
of all rota- 
tions com- 
pared with 
continuous 
cropping. 



-$1.06 
+ 1.41 
+ 4.36 



2.55 
1.84 
1.27 
.17 
.02 
3.66 
.08 
5. 06 
2.35 
.85 
4.15 
.61 
.42 
.61 
1.46 



1.35 



2. 25 
4. 50 
3.55 



DISKED CORN STUBBLE BETTER THAN SUMMER TILLAGE FOR SPRING 

WHEAT AND OATS. 

Table XXIV gives a comparison between the effects of summer 
tillage and disked corn stubble as a preparation for wheat and oats. 

187 



46 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 

Rotation No. 1 — corn on fall plowing, wheat on disked corn stubble, 
oats on fall plowing — is identical with No. 4 except that the sequence 
of the wheat and oats has been changed. Rotation No. 5 — summer 
tillage, wheat on summer-tilled land, oats on fall plowing — is identical 
with No. 8, except that the sequence of the wheat and oats has been 
changed. We have therefore two pairs of rotations, 1 and 4 and 5 and 
8. In both rotations of the first pair (1 and 4) corn is raised. In one 
of them (1) wheat is sown on the disked corn stubble. In the other 
(4) the oats are sown on the disked corn stubble. In the second pair (5 
and 8) the land is summer tilled instead of being planted to corn. In 
one of these (5) wheat is sown on the summer-tilled land. In the 
other (8) oats are sown on the summer- tilled land. 

A comparison of the average farm value per acre of these two pairs 
of rotations will give the relative merits of disked corn stubble and 
summer tillage as a preparation for both wheat and oats. 

In the column headed "No. 1 " is given the average farm value per 
acre of the two grain crops, wheat and oats, for each test. These 
values are calculated at 60 cents per bushel for wheat and 30 cents per 
bushel for oats for rotation No. 1. In the column headed "No. 4'' 
are given the same data for rotation No. 4. In the next column to 
the right are given the average farm values per acre of the wheat and 
oats in the two corn rotations (1 and 4). In the columns headed 
"No. 5 " and "No. 8 " are given the same data for rotations Nos. 5 and 
8, respectively. In the next column are given the average farm val- 
ues per acre of the wheat and oats in the two summer-tilled rotations 
(5 and 8). In the next two columns are given the differences in farm 
value per acre between the average of the two pairs 1 and 4 and 5 and 
8, which represent the gain in favor of summer tillage or disked corn 
stubble, as the case may be, for each test. In these comparisons the 
value of the corn crop is not included, the oat and wheat crops alone 
being considered. It is found that in twelve tests the summer- tilled 
rotations gave better average farm values per acre for the two grain 
crops than did the corn rotations, while in seven tests the corn rota- 
tions gave better average farm values for wheat and oats than the 
summer-tilled rotations, the average farm value per acre in favor of 
summer tillage being only $1.04 per acre and the greatest gain of 
summer tillage over disked corn stubble being only $4.41 per acre. 

The cost of the summer tillage was fully equal to, if not more than, 
the cost of raising the corps of corn. Therefore, the total value of 
the crops of corn raised should be credited to the corn rotations. 
Although the yields from the corn plats, as previously explained, were 
much less satisfactory than those from the small grain plats, we have 
given them in this instance. In four tests, Judith Basin, Mont., 
Dickinson, N. Dak., 1908, and Edgeley, N. Dak., 1907 and 1908, the 
corn did not mature on account of the variety used not being early 
enough. In two other tests, Garden City, Kans., and Dalhart, Tex., 

187 



RELATIVE FARM VALUE OF CROPS. 



47 



1909, no grain was produced on account of severe drought. In these 
six tests the yields of the fodder alone have been given. At High- 
more no record was kept of the fodder, so only the grain yields are 
shown. The record is therefore incomplete and unsatisfactory, but 
it is sufficient to show the superiority of the corn rotations over the 
summer-tilled rotations. 

The value of the fodder was calculated at $3 per ton. It is possible 
that this is too high for some localities where wild hay could be ob- 
tained for the cost of cutting, stacking, and hauling; on the other 
hand it was probably too low where hay was scarce and high on ac- 
count of drought. The average farm value of hay for ten years in 
the four States of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and 
Kansas has been $4.78 per ton. On this basis corn fodder would be 
worth at least $3. The average farm value per acre of the grain 
alone of the corn crop at the twelve stations where the corn matured 
was $10 per acre, calculated at 39 cents per bushel. The average 
farm value per acre of fodder in the sixteen tests where a record was 
kept was $4.67. At three of the tests where corn failed to mature, the 
wheat and oats gave better yields on the corn stubble than on the 
summer tillage. This leaves only three tests — Judith Basin, Mont., 
Garden City, Kans., and Dalhart, Tex.— where the gain was not in 
favor of the corn rotations. At Garden City, Kans., and Dalhart, 
Tex., the entire crops of wheat, oats, and corn were a practical failure 
even on the summer-tilled land, so these tests may be discarded as 
indecisive. The balance would therefore be in favor of the corn 
rotations in all the decisive tests, except Judith Basin, if no value 
whatever were placed upon the corn fodder. A valuation of even 
50 cents per ton for the fodder would turn the balance in favor of the 
corn rotation at Judith Basin. 

In the final right-hand column of the table are given the net average 
gains per acre of the corn rotations over the summer-tilled rotations, 
including both the grain and fodder of the corn crop. These figures 
were obtained by adding half the average value of the corn crops 
to the average value of the wheat and oats in the corn rotations and 
subtracting the average value of the wheat and oat crops in the 
summer-tilled rotations. 

a The reason for adding one-half instead of the whole of the average farm value per 
acre of the two corn crops to the average farm value per acre of the two wheat and two 
oat crops in the corn rotations (1 and 4) is as follows: There are twice as many acres 
of wheat and oats, taken together, as there are either of corn or of summer-tilled land, 
respectively, in each of the two pairs of rotations. One-half of the average farm value 
of the two corn crops should therefore be added to each of the average farm values of 
the two wheat and the two oat crops in the two corn rotations (1 and 4), and their 
sum should be divided by two in order to make the net average farm value per acre 
of the two corn rotations comparable to that of the two summer-tilled rotations (5 and 
8). The same end is accomplished by adding one-half the average farm value of the 
two corn crops to the average farm value of the two wheat and two oat crops in the 
corn rotations, as is done in the table. 

52345°— Bui. 187—10 4 



48 



CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 



The results of these tests tend very strongly toward the conclusion 
that a corn crop is a better preparation for spring wheat or oats than 
summer tillage under a wide range of soil and climatic conditions in 
the Great Plains. 

Table XXIV. — Disked corn stubble compared with summer tillage as a preparation for 

crops of wheat and oats. 



Station. 



Year. 



Average value per acre of wheat and oats. 



Rota- 
tion 
No. 1. 



Rota- 
tion 
No. 4. 



Rota- 
tions 
Nos. 1 
and 4. 



Rota- 
tion 
No. 5. 



Rota- 
tion 
No. 8. 



Rota- 
tions 
Nos. 5 
and 8. 



Gain in 
favor 
of sum- 
mer til- 



Gain in 
favor of 
disked 
corn 
stub- 
ble.a 



Judith Basin, Mont.. 
Dickinson, N. Dak. . 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak... 

Do 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak. 
North Platte, Nebr.. 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans. . 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



1909 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 



$20. 66 
16. 03 
21.60 
8. 90 
11.14 
19.50 
14. 81 
13.48 
11.61 
17. 16 
10. 73 
17.62 

1L34 
5. 39 
.75 



$21.11 

15. 72 
21.17 

7.47 
8.22 
18. 10 

16. 74 
15. 96 
11.88 
20.16 
13.35 
17.54 

8. 41 
6. 38 
4. 41 
.70 



$20. 89 
15. 87 
21.39 
8.18 
9.68 
18.80 
15. 77 
14. 72 
11.75 
18. 66 
12. 04 
17.58 
9.19 
8. 86 
4. 90 
.73 



6.71 
1.50 



7.; 



7.04 
.75 



$21.47 
15. 81 
20.88 
7. 66 
10. 86 
18. 50 
16. 50 
18.24 
12. 87 
17. 16 
12.48 
20. 87 
11.02 
7.96 
4. 65 
2.48 
2.31 
8.61 
5. 14 



$22. 02 

15. 29 
21.70 

7. 19 
6. 22 

16. 41 
20. 01 
18. 48 
15. 24 
22. 74 
14.63 
23.11 

5. 04 
7.52 
5.58 
2. 01 
1.50 
9.12 
3.84 



$21. 75 
15. 55 
21.29 
7.42 
8. 54 
17.46 
18. 26 

18. 36 
14. 05 

19. 95 
13.55 
21.99 

8. 03 
7.74 
5. 12 
2. 24 
1.91 
8. 86 
4. 49 



$0. 



2.49 
3.64 
2. 30 
1.29 
1.51 
4. 41 



$0. 32 
.10 
.76 
1.14 
1.34 



1. 16 
1.12 



.22 
1.51 
1.91 
1.82 
3.74 



Average . 



11.52 



11.30 



11.41 



12. 39 



12. 51 



12.45 



1.04 



Station. 



Judith Basin, Mont.. 
Dickinson, N. Dak. . 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak... 

Do 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak. 
North Platte, Nebr.. 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans. . 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



Total.... 
Average . 



Year. 



1909 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 



Returns from corn crop. 



Fodder. 



$11.47 
3.13 
2. 97 
4. 33 
3.48 
4. 38 



5. 26 
7.01 
5.11 
3.78 
4. 03 
7. 86 
3.97 
1.31 
4. 57 
2.13 



74. 79 



Grain. 



$18. 84 



11.82 
14. 95 
9. 13 
8. 36 
7.69 
7.23 
10. 27 
10. 19 
9. 73 
5. 27 



6. 37 



119.85 



Total. 



$11.47 
3. 13 
21.81 
4.33 
3.48 
16. 20 

14. 95 
9. 13 
8. 36 

12. 95 
14. 24 

15. 38 
13.97 
13.76 
13.13 

3.97 
1.31 
10. 94 
2.13 



194. 64 
10. 24 



Net gain 
per acre of 
rotations 1 
and 4 in 
favor of 
disked 
corn 
stubble. 



$4. 87 
1.89 
11.00 

2. 93 
2. 88 
9.44 
4.98 

.93 
1.88 
5. 18 
5. 61 
3.28 
8. 24 
8.00 
6. 35 

.48 
-1.26 

3. 65 
-2.67 



4.08 



187 



Corn not considered. 



RELATIVE FARM VALUE OF CROPS. 



49 



DISKING CORN STUBBLE GIVES BETTER RESULTS THAN PLOWING FOR 
SPRING WHEAT WHICH IS TO FOLLOW. 

In Table XXV a comparison has been made between the average 
farm values of rotations Nos. 1 and 3. These two rotations are 
identical, except that in No. 1 the corn stubble was disked and in No. 3 
it was fall plowed. In eleven tests, the disking, and in seven tests, 
the plowing, gave best results. The average was 36 cents per acre 
in favor of disking. In none of the tests was the gain in favor of 
plowing sufficient to more than pay for the extra labor, and in four 
it was insignificant. On the other hand, the gain from disking was, 
in five tests, enough, together with the less cost of disking, to make the 
disking decidedly the better practice. It may therefore be con- 
sidered that these investigations indicate that disking is the better 
practice at all the stations. 



Table XXV. — Dishing compared with plowing corn stubble for spring wheat. 



Station. 


Year. 


Average value per acre 
of wheat and oats. 


Gain in 
favor of 
disking. 


Gain in 
favor of 
plowing. 


Rotation 
No. 1, 
disked. 


Rotation 
No. 3, 
plowed. 


Judith Basin, Mont 


1909 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 
1908 
1908 
1909 


$20. 66 
16. 03 
21.60 

8. 90 
11.14 
19.50 
14. 81 
13.48 
11.61 
17.16 
10. 73 
17.62 

9. 98 
11.34 

5. 39 
.75 


$18. 53 
16. 33 
20. 57 
8. 35 
8. 78 
19. 72 
14. 73 
14. 96 
12. 16 
17.01 
10. 80 
17. 36 
10. 04 
8.58 
4. 19 
.66 


$2. 13 




Dickinson, N. Dak 


$0. 30 


Do 


1.03 
.55 
2. 36 


Edgeley, N. Dak 




Do 




Do 


.22 


Highmore, S. Dak 


.08 


Do 


1.48 
.55 


Do 




Bellefourche, S. Dak 


.15 


North Platte, Nebr 


.07 


Do 


.26 


Do 


.06 


Akron, Colo 


2.76 
1.20 
.09 


Hays, Kans 




Garden City, Kans 




Dalhart, Tex 




Amarillo, Tex 


6.71 
1.50 


6. 67 
2. 67 


.04 




Do 


1.17 


Average 




11.52 


11.16 


.36 











187 



50 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 

THE RELATIVE MERITS OF FALL AND SPRING PLOWING DEPEND UPON 
LOCAL CONDITIONS OF SOIL AND CLIMATE. 

In Tables XXVI and XXVII comparisons have been made between 
fall-plowed and spring-plowed rotations. In Table XXVI four fall- 
plowed and three spring-plowed rotations have been used, while in 
Table XXVII only two rotations have been used. The results of the 
two tables do not agree. The first table is probably the less trust- 
worthy of the two, as it introduces several other factors, which 
undoubtedly obscure the results of the time of plowing. The two 
rotations presented in Table XXVII are strictly comparable, as they 
differ only in this one factor. Neither of these tables gives results 
that are at all decisive. The only conclusions that can be drawn 
are: That the natural character of the soil, its physical condition at 
the time of plowing, the holding of snow by stubble during the 
winter, the liability to blowing during the winter, and the kind of 
crop to be grown must all be considered. It would seem from these 
results that, until further evidence is secured, the farmer should do 
his plowing at the time that the soil is in best condition for plowing 
and when he can use his teams and men to the best advantage. The 
depth of plowing and the amount of harrowing after plowing must 
also be determined by local and seasonal conditions. 



Table XXVI. — Spring plowing compared with fall plowing. 







Fall-plowed rotations. 


Spring-plowed rotations. 


)f fall 


Station. 


Year. 


Average value per 
acre of wheat and 
oats. No. 1. 


Average value per 
acre of wheat and 
oats. No. 3. 


Average value per 
acre of wheat and 
oats. No. 4. 


Average value per 
acre of oats and 
barley. No. 6. 


Average value per 
acre, fall-plowed 
rotations. 


Average value per 
acre of wheat and 
oats. No. 2. 


Average value per 
acre of barley and 
oats. No. 7. 


Average value per 
acre of wheat and 
oats. No. 9. 


Average value per 
acre, spring- 
plowed rotations. 


Difference in favor ( 
plowing. 


Judith Basin, Mont 

Dickinson, N. Dak 


1909 
1908 
1909 


$20. 66 
16. 03 


$18. 53 
16. 33 


$21.11 
15. 72 


$16. 79 
15. 37 


$19. 27 
15. 86 


$19. 40 
18. 37 


$18. 53 
15. 67 


$20.08 
13.20 


$19.34 
15. 75 


-$0.07 
.11 


Do 


21.60 
8.90 


20. 57 


21.17 


19.50 


20.71 


21.00 


19. 89 


19. 90 


20. 26 


.45 


Edgeley, N. Dak 


1907 


8.35 


7.47 


8.35 


8. 27 


8. 42 


5. 74 


2. 10 


5. 42 


2.85 


Do 


1908 


11.14 


8.78 


8.22 


8. 45 


9.15 


7. 83 


8. 65 


6. 59 


7. 69 


1.46 


Do 


1909 


19. 50 


19.72 


18.10 


15. 33 


18.16 


19. 33 


15. 35 


16. 54 


17. 07 


1.09 


Highmore, S. Dak 


1906 


14. 81 


14. 73 


16. 74 


15. 24 


15. 38 


14. 01 


14.17 


16. 25 


14.81 


.57 


Do 


1907 


13. 48 


14. 96 


15. 96 


12.16 


14.14 


14. 94 


11.95 


14. 48 


13. 79 


.35 


Do 


1908 


11.61 


12.16 


11.88 


11.14 


11.70 


13.10 


11.68 


13.50 


12. 76 


- 1.06 


Bellefourche, S. Dak.... 
North Platte, Nebr. 
Do 


1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 


17.16 
10. 73 
17. 62 


17. 01 
10. 80 
17. 36 


20.16 
13.35 
17. 54 


18. 79 
9. 28 
12. 09 


18. 28 
11.04 
16.10 


13. 55 
11.96 
12. 73 


14.16 

12. 99 

13. 28 


17.16 
11.25 
12. 48 


14. 96 
12. 07 
12. 83 


3.32 
- 1.03 
3. 27 


Do 


9. 98 


10. 04 


8. 41 


7.04 


8.87 


9.37 


8. 77 


9. 13 


9.09 


— .29 


Akron, Colo 


1909 
1908 


11.34 


8.58 


6. 38 


7.85 


8. 54 


8.99 


8. 06 


6. 92 


7.99 


.55 


Hays, Kans 


5. 39 


4.19 


4.41 


7.66 


5. 41 


4.35 


1.65 


3.52 


3.17 


2.24 


Garden City, Kans 

Dalhart, Tex 


1909 
1909 
1908 


.75 


.66 


.70 


1.44 


.89 


1.39 


4. 03 


1.10 


2.17 


- 1.28 


Amarillo, Tex 


6. 71 


6. 67 


7. 38 


6.12 


4.72 


5. 91 


4. 73 


4. 96 


5.20 


— .48 


Do 


1909 


1.50 


2. 67 




1.04 










1.04 


















Average 




11.52 


11.16 


11.30 


10.14 




10. 77 


9.97 


9.43 

















187 



RELATIVE FARM VALUE OF CROPS. 
Table XXVII. — Spring plowing compared with fall plowing. 



51 



Station. 



Year. 



Average value per acre 
of wheat and oats. 



Rotation 
No. 2. 



Rotation 
No. 3. 



Gain in favor of- 



Spring 
plowing. 



Fall 
plowing. 



Judith Basin, Mont. 
Dickinson, N. Dak. . 

Do. 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Higlunore, S. Dak. . . 

Do 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak. 
North Platte, Nebr. . 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans. . 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



1909 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 



Average. 



$19. 40 
18. 37 
21.00 
8. 42 
7. 83 
19.33 
14. 01 
14. 94 
13.10 
13.55 
11.96 
12. 73 
9. 37 
8. 99 
4.35 
1.39 
.00 
5. 91 
.00 



10. 77 



•118. 53 
16. 33 
20.57 
8. 35 
8. 78 
19.72 
14. 73 
14. 96 
12.16 
17. 01 
10. 80 
17.36 
10.04 
8. 58 
4.19 
.66 
.00 
6.67 
2. 67 



11.16 



$0.87 
2.04 
.43 
.07 



.41 
.16 
.73 
.00 



$0. 95 
.39 
.72 
.02 



3. 46 



4. 63 
.67 



.76 

2. 67 



39 



THE RELATION OF WHEAT AND OATS TO SUMMER TILLAGE IN A THREE- 
YEAR ROTATION. 

The comparison in Table XXVIII of rotation No. 5, where wheat, 
and No. 8, where oats, follow summer tillage gives some interesting 
information. At Judith Basin, Mont., where only one year's results 
have been secured, the advantage was slightly in favor of oats fol- 
lowing summer tillage. At Dickinson, N. Dak., the difference was 
not only small but also contradictory for the two years. At Edge- 
ley, N. Dak., the advantage was in favor of No. 5, wheat after fallow 
all three years. At Highmore, S. Dak., the advantage was with 
No. 8, oats after fallow all three years. At Bellefourche, S. Dak., 
the single year's results are markedly in favor of No. 8. At North 
Platte, Nebr., the advantage was with No. 8 in 1907 and 1908 and 
with No. 5 in 1909. For reasons already explained, the last year's 
results at this station were reversed by unfavorable weather condi- 
tions in May. The results indicate that No. 8 is the better for North 
Platte. The results of the tests at the other stations were indecisive. 
It appears, therefore, that at Edgeley the advantage is decidedly in 
favor of No. 5, wheat after summer tillage. At Highmore, Belle- 
fourche, and North Platte the advantage is as strongly in favor of 
No. 8, oats after summer tillage. The other stations show no marked 
advantage in favor of either rotation over the other. 

187 



52 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOR GEEAT PLAINS. 

Table XXVIII. — Fallow, wheat, oats (rotation No. 5) compared with fallow, oats, 

wheat (rotation No. 8). 



Station. 



Year. 



Average value per 
acre of— 



Wheat and 

oats. 
Rotation 
No. 5. 



Oats and 
wheat. 

Rotation 
No. 8. 



Gain in favor of— 



Rotation 
No. 5. 



Rotation 
No. 8. 



Judith Basin, Mont. 
Dickinson, N. Dak. . 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak... 

Do 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak. 
North Platte, Nebr.. 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Hays, Kans 

Garden City, Kans. . 

Dalhart, Tex 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 



1909 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 



Average . 



$21. 47 
15.81 
20.88 
7. 66 
10. 86 
18.50 
16.50 
18. 24 
12. 87 
17. 16 
12.48 
20. 87 
11.02 
7. 96 
4.65 
2.48 
2.31 
8. 61 
5. 14 



12.39 



822. 02 

15. 29 
21.70 

7.19 
6.22 

16. 41 
20.01 
18. 48 
15. 24 
22. 74 
14. G3 
23.11 

5.04 
7.52 
5.58 
2. 01 
1.50 
9. 12 
3.84 



12. 51 



SO. 52 



.47 
4.64 
2. 09 



1.30 



$0. 55 
"'.82 



3.51 
.24 
2.37 
5.58 
2.15 
2. 24 



.51 
.12 



WHEAT, OATS, CORN A BETTER SEQUENCE ON SPRING PLOWING THAN 
OATS, WHEAT, CORN AT MOST STATIONS. 

In Table "XXIX a comparison of rotations Nos. 2 and 9 shows that 
when spring plowing is practiced the wheat-oats-corn sequence gives 
better results than the oats- wheat-corn sequence, Highmore and Belle- 
fourche, S. Dak., and Judith Basin, Mont., being the only stations 
where the latter sequence gives better results than the former. 

In Table XXX the same comparisons have been made between 
rotations Nos. 1 and 4. In these rotations the corn stubble was 
disked instead of plowed and the two other plats in each of the 
rotations were fall plowed instead of being spring plowed, as were 
rotations Nos. 2 and 9. 

The results of this comparison agree in a general way with those 
of rotations Nos. 2 and 9, but are less markedly in favor of the corn- 
wheat-oats sequence, the net gain of this sequence being only 22 
cents instead of 82 cents per acre. The four tests giving results in 
favor of the corn-oats- wheat sequence in Table XXIX also gave 
like results in Table XXX. There are, however, three additional 
tests in the latter comparison in favor of the corn-oats- wheat sequence, 
i. e., Highmore, 1907, North Platte, 1907, and Amarillo, 1908. 

187 



RELATIVE FARM VALUE OF CROPS. 



53 



Table XXIX. — Comparison of rotations Nos. 2 and 9 in detail, showing the effect of 
sequence, in dollars and cents per acre. 







Value of 


wheat per 


Value of 


oats per 


Average 


value per 






acre. 


acre. 




acre. 


Station. 


















Year. 




















Rotation 


Rotation 


Rotation 


Rotation 


Rotation 


Rotation 






No. 2. 


No. 9. 


No. 2. 


No 


Q 

y. 


No. 2. 


No. 9. 


Tnrlf'Hn TiciQin lVToni" 


1909 


$19. 86 


$18. 96 


$18. 93 


$21 


21 


$19. 40 


$20. 08 




1908 


21.00 


11. 22 


15.75 


15 


18 


18. 37 


13. 20 


Do 


1909 


23. 82 


18. 42 


18. 18 


21 


39 


21. 00 


19. 90 


"Flrlp-plpv N Dalr 


1907 


7^92 


2. 52 


8.91 


1 


68 


8' 42 


2.10 


Do 


1908 


9. 48 


8. 10 


6. 18 


5 


07 


7. 83 


6.59 


Do 


1909 


19. 56 


15. 48 


19. 11 


17 


61 


19. 33 


16.54 


Highmore, S. Dak 


1906 


16. 38 


15.42 


11. 64 


17 


07 


14. 01 


16. 25 


Do 


1907 


17. 40 


14.70 


12. 48 


14 


25 


14. 94 


14. 48 


Do 


1908 


15. 12 


14. 52 


11.07 


12. 


48 


13. 10 


13. 50 


Bellefourche, S. Dak 


1909 


14. 34 


15. 66 


12. 75 


18 


66 


13. 55 


17. 16 


North Platte, Nebr 


1907 


14.22 


12.48 


9. 69 


10 


02 


11.96 


11.25 


Do 


1908 


14.40 


10. 50 


11.07 


14 


46 


12. 73 


12.48 


Do 


1909 


10. 32 


10. 00 


8.43 


8 


25 


9. 37 


9. 13 


Akron, Colo 


1909 


12. 48 


8. 58 


5. 49 


5 


25 


8.99 


6.92 


Hays, Kans 


1908 


.90 


1.32 


7. 80 


5 


73 


4. 35 


3.52 


Garden City, Kans 


1909 


2. 40 


1. 50 


.39 




69 


1.39 


1.10 




1909 


.00 


.00 


.00 




00 


.00 


.00 


Amarillo, Tex 


1908 


4.80 


3.18 


7.02 


6' 


75 


5. 91 


4. 96 


Do 


1909 


.00 


.00 


.00 




00 


.00 


.00 


Average 




11.81 


9.61 


9.73 


10 


30 


10. 77 


9. 95 






Gain in value per 


Gain in value per 


Gain in value per 






acre of 


wheat. 


acre of oats. 




acre. 


Station. 


Year. 


Rotation 


Rotation 


Rotation 


Rotation 


Rotation 


Rotation 






No. 2 


No. 9 


No. 2 


No. 


9 


No. 2 


No. 9 






over 


over 


over 


over 


over 


over 






No. 9. 


No. 2. 


No. 9. 


No. 2. 


No. 9. 


No. 2. 




1909 
1908 


$0. 90 






$2. 


28 




$0. 68 


Dickinson, N. Dak 


9.78 




$0. 57 


$5. 17 




1909 


5. 40 




3.21 


1. 10 




HiCigeiey, is. uaK 


1907 


5. 40 




7. 23 


6. 32 






1908 


1.38 




1. 11 




1.24 






1909 


4. 08 




1.50 




2. 79 




Highmore, S. Dak 


1906 


.96 




5. 


43 


2.24 


Do 


1907 


2. 70 






1. 


77 


.46 


Do 


1908 


.60 






1. 


41 


.40 


Bellefourche, S. Dak 


1909 


$1.32 




5. 


91 




3.61 


North Platte, Nebr 


1907 
1908 


1. 74 






33 


.71 


Do 


3. 90 






3^ 


39 


.25 




Do 


1909 


.32 




.18 




.24 




Akron, Colo 


1909 


3.90 




.24 




2. 07 




Hays, Kans 


1908 


.42 


2. 07 




.83 




Garden City, Kans 


1909 


.90 


.30 


.29 




Dalhart, Tex 


1909 
1908 


.00 


.00 






Amarillo, Tex 


1.62 


.27 




.95 




Do 


1909 


.00 


.00 














Average 




2. 20 






.57 


.82 















187 



54 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 



Table XXX. — Comparison of rotations Nos. 1 and 4 in detail, showing the effect of 
sequence, in dollars and cents per acre. 



fetation. 


Year. 


Value of 

wheat 
per acre. 


Value of oats per 
acre. 


Value of 

wheat 
per acre. 


Average value per 
acre. 






Rotation 


Rotation 


Rotation 


Rotation 


Rotation 


Rotation 






No. 1. 


No. 


1. 


No. 4. 


No. 4. 


No. 1. 


No. 4. 


Judith Basin, Mont 


1909 


$20. 88 


$20. 


43 


$22. 23 


$19. 98 


$20. 66 


$21. 11 


Dickinson, N. Dak 


1908 


21. 48 


10. 


59 


20. 16 


11.28 


16. 03 


15. 72 


Do : 


1909 


23. 88 


19. 


32 


21. 75 


20. 58 


21. 60 


21. 17 


Edgeley, N. Dak 


1907 


10. 02 


7. 


77 


8. 64 


6. 30 


8. 90 


7. 47 


Do 


1908 


14. 40 


7. 


89 


7. 02 


9. 42 


11. 14 


8. 22 


Do 


1909 


19. 80 


19. 


20 


19. 11 


17. 10 


19. 50 


18. 10 


Highmore S Dak 


1906 


16. 02 


13 


59 


18. 48 


15. 00 


14. 81 


16. 74 


Do 


1907 


12. 90 


14 


07 


14. 52 


17. 40 


13. 48 


15. 96 


Do 


1908 


14. 58 


8 


64 


10. 68 


13.08 


11.61 


11.88 


Bellefourche, S. Dak 


1909 


17. 64 


16 


68 


22. 50 


17. 82 


17. 16 


20. 16 


North Platte, Nebr. 


1907 


13. 38 


8. 


07 


12. 18 


14.52 


10. 73 


13. 35 


Do 


1908 


17. 16 


18 


09 


16. 29 


18. 78 


17. 62 


17.54 


Do 


1909 


13. 02 


6 


93 


6.75 


10. 08 


9.98 


8. 41 


Akron, Colo 


1909 


15. 00 


7 


68 


6.39 


6. 36 


11.34 


6.38 


Hays, Kans 


1908 


2.22 


8 


55 


4.80 


4. 02 


5. 39 


4. 41 


Garden City, Kans 


1909 


.60 




90 


.87 


.54 


.75 


.70 


Dalhart, Tex 


1909 


.00 




00 


.00 


.00 


.00 


.00 


Amarillo, Tex 


1908 


4. 98 


8' 


43 


6. 84 


7. 92 


6.71 


7. 38 


Do 


1909 


.00 


3 


00 


.00 


.00 


1.50 


.00 


Average 




12.52 


10.52 


11.54 


11.06 


11.52 


11.30 







Station. 


Year. 


Gain in value of 
wheat. 


Gain in value of 
oats. 


Gain in value per 
acre. 


Rotation 
No. 1 
over 
No. 4. 


Rotation 
No. 4 
over 
No. 1. 


Rotation 
No. 1 
over 
No. 4. 


Rotation 
No. 4 
over 
No. 1. 


Rotation 
No. 1 
over 
No. 4. 


Rotation 
No. 4 
over 
No. 1. 


Judith Basin, Mont 


1909 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 
1908 


$0. 90 
10. 20 
3. 30 
3. 72 
4. 98 
2. 70 
1.02 






$1.80 
9. 57 
2. 43 
.87 




$0.45 


Dickinson, N. Dak 






$0.31 
.43 
1.43 
2. 92 
1.40 


Do 








Edgeley, N. Dak 








Do 




$0. 87 
.09 




Do .... 








Highmore, S. Dak 




4. 89 
.45 

2.04 

5. 82 
4.11 


1.93 

2. 48 
.27 

3. 00 
2. 62 


Do 


$4. 50 






Do 


1.50 






Bellefourche, S. Dak 


1909 
1907 


.18 
1. 14 
1.62 






North Platte, Nebr 








Do 


1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 
1909 
1908 
1909 




1. 80 
.18 
1. 29 
3.75 
.03 
.00 
1.59 
3. 00 


.08 
1. 57 
4. 96 
.98 
.05 


Do 


2.94 
8. 64 






Akron, Colo 








Hays, Kans 


1.80 






Garden Citv, Kans 


.06 
.00 






Dalhart, Tex 


.00 
2.94 






Amarillo, Tex 






.67 


Do 


.00 




1.50 


Average 








1.46 






1.02 


.22 















187 



CONSERVATION OF ORGANIC MATTER. 



55 



ROTATIONS FOR THE CONSERVATION OF ORGANIC MATTER IN 

THE SOIL. 

The conservation of the organic matter in the soil is probably the 
most important problem in crop rotation. In the various 3-year 
rotations which have been discussed in the foregoing pages no atten- 
tion has been paid to this important subject for the reasons already 
given, that its introduction in these experiments would tend to 
obscure the effects of sequence and methods of soil preparation. A 
great deal of work has, however, been done at these same stations 
with various rotations calculated to conserve the organic matter in 
the soil. There are several reasons why the results from these experi- 
ments have not yet reached the stage where any very safe conclusion 
can be drawn. Among the most important of these reasons are the 
following : 

(1) Rotations planned for this purpose must be of at least four and, 
preferably, six years' duration; and a complete cycle of the rotation 
should be completed before results will be at all marked. 

(2) The plowing under of sod or green manure is frequently less 
beneficial to the crops immediately following than to the subsequent 
crops. Under certain conditions of soil and climate the first effect 
may be even to reduce rather than to increase the following crop. 
This is especially true where a green-manure crop is allowed to become 
too mature before plowing under, where a grass or clover sod is broken 
when it is not in the best condition for plowing, or where the soil is 
not properly treated after plowing. 

(3) The great diversity of soil and climatic conditions encountered 
at the several stations has made it impossible always to foresee just 
how the best results can be obtained. Some experiments and some 
mistakes had to be made before the best methods of investigation 
could be worked out. 

(4) The growing of most of the cultivated perennial grasses, the 
biennial and annual legumes, and the winter grains is still in the early 
experimental stages at many of the stations. The failure to secure 
a catch of seed and the injury or total loss of the crop by winterkill- 
ing has in some instances seriously interfered with carrying out the 
plans of the experiments. 

(5) Experience is enabling us to gradually reduce these sources of 
error, but they can never be entirely eliminated. It will therefore 
require a much longer period of time to reach the same degree of 
accuracy in these investigations as that attained with the simple 
3-year rotations and the continuous cropping and summer tillage 
experiments already described. 

(6) Another important consideration in this connection is that the 
effects of all these methods are cumulative. Continuous cropping or 

187 



56 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 

alternate cropping and summer tillage without the application of 
barnyard or green manure must in time deplete the soil of its organic 
matter and consequently reduce both its drought resistance and its 
fertility. On the contrary, a properly planned and conducted rota- 
tion system should maintain or augment the store of organic matter 
in the soil and thereby increase both its fertility and its drought 
resistance, and consequently its crop-producing capacity. Such being 
the case it would be manifestly unreasonable to expect to establish 
any definite quantitative relations between two such diverging systems 
until after a lapse of sufficient time to allow the rate of this divergence 
to become definitely established. 

While the results of these investigations have not yet reached the 
stage where definite quantitative relations can be established, they 
have, we believe, produced sufficient evidence to warrant us in making 
certain recommendations and suggestions for rotations in the Great 
Plains. 

In the following pages we have attempted to outline certain systems 
of crop rotation which will combine the best features of the extensive 
system of farming with the conservation of the organic matter, as 
well as the moisture of the soil. These rotations, as well as many 
others, have been on trial at nearly all the stations mentioned and 
have given sufficiently favorable results to warrant their recommenda- 
tion for further trials by farmers in the Great Plains area. 

The following tables are intended to represent a quarter section of 
land divided into as many fields as there are years in the rotation. 
Of course, this would apply equally as well to a farm of more or less 
extent than 160 acres, but as a quarter section is the common unit 
of land measurement in the West we have assumed that each of these 
rotations is to be practiced upon a single quarter. The letters assigned 
to the plats indicate the crops to be raised on each plat for as many 
years as are involved in the particular rotation under consideration. 
When this cycle has been completed it will be begun over and the 
same crops will be raised in the same succession continuously as long 
as the rotation is practiced. 

It is quite important in planning a rotation to devote a great deal 
of careful thought and attention to the matter, as the best results 
will obtain where the rotations are carried on uninterruptedly for long 
periods. It is true that many minor changes may be made in the 
rotation without seriously interfering with its general plan. We 
have attempted to point out some of the ways in which the following 
rotations may be modified to suit local conditions. 

Where annual crops only are used, the beginning of the rotation is 
a very simple matter. All that is necessary is to divide the farm into 
as many fields of uniform size as there are years in the rotation and 

187 



CONSERVATION OF ORGANIC MATTER. 



57 



then seed each field to the crops in the rotation in regular order, as is 
shown in the tables. 

Where biennial or perennial crops enter into the rotation, as is the 
case with rotations Nos. 1 and 2, it will be necessary the first year to 
supply some other crop in the place of the perennial, which, when the 
rotation is once started, will be carried on from the previous year. 
For instance, in the case of the 6-year rotation (No. 2) the farm 
should be divided into six fields of equal area, as shown. Field A 
should be planted to corn, field B to wheat, and field C should be 
seeded to brome-grass. Field D should also be seeded to brome- 
grass, as it will remain as a meadow during the following year. 
Field E, which should be in brome-grass, but would be broken up after 
the grass was cut, should be planted to some other crop. It is not 
important what this crop should be, except that if the rotation has 
been adopted with a view to furnishing the proper quantity of hay it 
would be desirable to have this field put into some kind of an annual 
crop that could be cut for hay. Millet, oats and peas sown together, 
milo, or some of the other nonsaccharine sorghums, could be used for 
this purpose. Field F would be sown to oats, barley, emmer, or 
wheat, as shown. After the first year the rotation would go on 
without further interruption, except that in the case of a failure of the 
grass to catch, some annual could be substituted without in any way 
interfering with the general plan of the rotation. 

FIVE-YEAR ROTATION (NO. l) . 



Field A, 32 Acres. 

1910. Corn. 

1911. Wheat, winter or spring. 

1912. Brome-grass meadow. 

1913. Brome-grass meadow. 

1914. Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. 

Field B, 32 Acres. 

1910. Wheat, winter or spring. 

1911. Brome-grass meadow. 

1912. Brome-grass meadow. 

1913. Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. 

1914. Corn. 

Field C, 32 Acres. 

1910. Brome-grass meadow. 

1911. Brome-grass meadow. 

1912. Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. 

1913. Corn. 

1914. Wheat, winter or spring. 
187 



Field D, 32 Acres. 

1910. Brome-grass meadow. 

1911. Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. 

1912. Corn. 

1913. Wheat, winter or spring. 

1914. Brome-grass meadow. 

Field E, 32 Acres. 

1910. Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. 

1911. Corn. 

1912. Wheat, winter or spring. 

1913. Brome-grass meadow. 

1914. Brome-grass meadow 



58 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FO£ GREAT PLAINS. 

This rotation is one that has proved very satisfactory in our experi- 
ments, and it is believed that with the modifications that may be 
made in it, it will be found adapted to a large portion of the Great 
Plains area. It is possible that the order in which the crops are grown 
might be changed, but from our experience in this particular we have 
found this arrangement the most satisfactory. This being a 5-year 
rotation, the farm would be divided into five fields of 32 acres each. 
There would be 32 acres of corn, 64 acres of small grain, and 64 acres 
of meadow each year. 

Corn. — This crop may be grown either upon fall plowing or spring 
plowing. The time of planting must be determined by the experience 
of farmers in the particular locality where it is to be tried. It is 
believed that, as a broad general proposition, spring plowing gives 
better results than fall plowing, but there are some notable excep- 
tions to this general rule. If the ground is to be plowed in the fall, 
the plowing should be done as soon after the preceding crop is harvested 
as possible. The depth to which the plowing should be done is a 
matter that depends largely upon local conditions of soil and climate, 
and also upon the depth to which plowing has been done in previous 
years. It is not usually desirable to plow more than about 1 inch 
of soil that has not been previously stirred. 

In the northern part of the area it will be impracticable to attempt 
any cultivation of the ground during the winter when the soil is frozen, 
but in the southern portion of the area, where the ground is not con- 
stantly frozen and where there is more or less winter rain, it would 
probably be advisable to harrow the ground after rains in order to 
preserve the moisture. In the spring the land may be disked or har- 
rowed after rains to conserve the moisture until planting time. 
Where the soil is of such a nature as to cause it to blow badly, the fall, 
winter, and spring treatment should be such as to reduce this danger 
to the lowest point. No general rule can be laid down which would 
be applicable to the many different soils to be found in the area. The 
planting may be done with a checkrower or with a lister; which- 
ever method is used the ground should be frequently cultivated after 
planting with a weeder or light harrow, or with some of the imple- 
ments used for cultivated and listed ground. When the grain has 
reached the height where this class of implements can not be used, it 
should be thoroughly cultivated, not only to keep it free from weeds, 
but to keep the crust broken, so as to conserve the moisture. In 
cultivating the corn crop, two objects should constantly be kept in 
view: (1) The cultivation of the soil with reference to the corn crop, 
and (2) the preparation of the soil for the grain crop which is to follow. 
Experience has shown that where corn does not grow oftener than 
once in three years in the rotation it does not pay to plow the land 

187 



CONSERVATION OF ORGANIC MATTER. 



59 



after the corn crop and before the succeeding crop is sown. If a crop 
of winter wheat is to be raised, the wheat should either be drilled in 
between the rows of standing corn, as is found desirable in the 
northern part of the area, or the corn should be cut and either shocked 
or removed from the field and the grain sown on disked corn stubble. 

Wheat. — If spring wheat is to be raised after the crop of corn, it will 
often be found advantageous to disk or harrow the corn stubble in the 
fall, after the corn is removed, in order to break up the crust and con- 
serve the moisture resulting from the fall rains when they occur. 
In the spring the grain can be drilled in upon the corn stubble with 
either a disk or a shoe drill. If the cornstalks were not removed 
the previous fall, but were left standing, it will be necessary to 
break them down with some kind of a stalk cutter, such as is in com- 
mon use wherever corn is extensively raised. In some instances it 
may be found necessary to disk the land before drilling in the wheat, 
but the soil is of such a nature over very considerable areas as to 
make this unnecessary and in some instances actually undesirable. 
A light harrowing after seeding is almost unfailingly beneficial, as it 
helps to cover the seed that may not have been completely covered 
by the drill, and also levels the surface. Light harrowing after the 
grain has come up and until it has reached a height where the har- 
rowing will seriously harm the plants is usually desirable. On some 
soils this work can be better done with some one of the various types 
of weeders that are on the market. This harrowing of the grain after 
it is up should be done as soon after rains as the soil is dry enough, 
so as not to clog the harrow or weeder. 

If brome-grass is to be sown with the wheat, the seeding of wheat 
should be as light as is consistent with a fair yield of grain. It 
would be impossible to lay down any rule as to the quantity per 
acre, but we have found 3 pecks per acre satisfactory. The brome- 
grass seed should be sown at the rate of about 20 pounds of good 
clean seed per acre. The seed may be sown either with the grass- 
seed attachment to the drill or broadcast by hand, and should be 
covered by a light harrowing. Where a man can be found who is 
accustomed to sowing seed by hand we have found the hand seeding 
the most satisfactory, as there is great danger of the brome-grass 
seed becoming clogged in the seeder on account of its light and 
chaffy nature. 

Where winter wheat is raised, the brome-grass may usually be 
sown in the fall at the time of the seeding of wheat. If a good catch 
of brome-grass is not obtained from this fall seeding, it is possible to 
reseed the thin patches in the spring, covering the ground with a 
light harrow or weeder. 

187 



60 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 

Brome-grass meadow. — If a good catch of brome-grass has been 
obtained, there should be a good yield of both hay and seed the 
following year. Where brome-grass seed is in demand, the seed 
crop is usually much more profitable than the hay crop, but, of 
course, only a small portion of the total crop of brome-grass can 
be used for this purpose each year in a locality where it is being 
extensively grown. The second year's crop of brome-grass usually 
yields more hay but less seed per acre, so that as a general thing 
the seed should be saved from the first year's crop and the second 
year's crop used mainly for hay. We have sometimes found it desir- 
able to cut the seed with a binder, setting it high enough so as not 
to cut the thick mass of grass at the bottom, and to follow the 
binder with a mowing machine to cut the hay. In cutting brome- 
grass for seed great care should be exercised to harvest it at just 
the right time; that is, as soon as the seed is mature and before it 
begins to shed. We have frequently seen a crop of seed reduced 
one-half by a delay of two days in cutting. 

, After the second year's crop of brome-grass has been cut the sod 
should be broken in order to prepare the land for the crop of oats, 
barley, emmer, or wheat which is to follow. The proper time for 
breaking the sod will depend upon the locality, soil, and climatic 
conditions. In the northern part of the area it will be found entirely 
practicable to cut a crop of hay in June, break the sod immediately, 
and sow a crop of flax upon the sod. In this way two crops can be 
obtained from the field the same year, and, in addition to the advan- 
tage of raising two crops, the soil will be in better condition for the 
crop of grain which is to follow the next year than it would be if 
the sod was simply broken and allowed to remain without a crop 
until the following spring. 

Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. — The treatment of the brome-grass 
sod from the time it is broken until the seeding of the following 
spring is a matter concerning which it is very difficult to lay down 
any very definite rule. The object is, of course, to get the sod as 
thoroughly rotted and subdued as possible and to get the soil into 
the best possible condition for the seed bed for the spring crop. The 
means adopted to attain this end will depend so much upon local 
conditions, peculiarities of soil, climate, etc., that the farmer will 
have to depend largely upon his own judgment and experience. If 
a crop of flax has been raised, the sod will rot much more rapidly 
than where flax is not raised, and it will usually be found desirable 
to backset the sod in the fall if there is sufficient moisture in the soil. 
Where a crop of flax has not been raised, the question of backsetting 
in the fall or allowing the sod to remain undisturbed until the fol- 
lowing spring is one that must depend upon local conditions. 

187 



CONSERVATION OF ORGANIC MATTER. 



61 



SIX- YEAR ROTATION (NO. 2) 



Field A, 26§ Acres. 

1910. Corn. 

1911. Wheat, winter or spring. 

1912. Seeded to brome-grass. 

1913. Brome-grass meadow. 

1914. Brome-grass meadow. 

1915. Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. 

Field B, 26f Acres. 

1910. Wheat, winter or spring. 

1911. Seeded to brome-grass. 

1912. Brome-grass meadow. 

1913. Brome-grass meadow. 

1914. Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. 

1915. Corn. 

Field C, 26f Acres. 

1910. Seeded to brome-grass. 

1911. Brome-grass meadow. 

1912. Brome-grass meadow. 

1913. Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. 

1914. Corn. 

1915. Wheat, winter or spring. 



Field D, 26f Acres. 

1910. Brome-grass meadow. 

1911. Brome-grass meadow. 

1912. Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. 

1913. Corn. 

1914. Wheat, winter or spring. 

1915. Seeded to brome-grass. 

Field E, 26| Acres. 

1910. Brome-grass meadow. 

1911. Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. 

1912. Corn. 

1913. Wheat, winter or spring. 

1914. Seeded to brome-grass. 

1915. Brome-grass meadow. 

Field F, 26| Acres. 

1910. Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. 

1911. Corn. 

1912. Wheat, winter or spring. 

1913. Seeded to brome-grass. 

1914. Brome-grass meadow. 

1915. Brome-grass meadow. 



In some of the drier parts of the Great Plains area it will probably 
be found impracticable to attempt to raise *brome-grass with a nurse 
crop. In such localities rotation No. 1, as previously described, 
should be modified by making it a 6-year instead of a 5-year rota- 
tion. With the 6-year rotation the farm would be divided into six 
fields of 26§ acres each, and we would, therefore, have 26f acres of 
corn, 53J acres of brome-grass, 53| acres of small grain, and 26f 
acres sown to brome-grass, but not yielding a crop. All the crops 
in the rotation would follow each other in the order already specified, 
except that there would be one year between the wheat crop and 
the first year of brome-grass meadow, during which the seeding of 
brome-grass would be done. 

When this modification of the rotation is adopted, the following 
method will be found satisfactory for preparing the land for seeding 
to brome-grass. The land should be plowed as soon after the crop 
of wheat has been removed as is practicable. The treatment of the 
soil after plowing should be such as will carry it through the winter 
in the best physical condition. As soon as the frost is out of the 
surface the following spring it should be harrowed, and this harrow- 
ing should continue until the ground becomes thoroughly warm and 
that time of the season has been reached when there is most likeli- 
hood of rains. In the Dakotas this time is usually the first week in 

187 



62 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 



June. In other parts of the area it may vary somewhat, but when 
the time arrives and the soil is thoroughly warm and in good condi- 
tion and when there is a reasonable prospect of rain the brome-grass 
should be sown, as heretofore described, at the rate of about 20 
pounds per acre and thoroughly harrowed in. The weeds having 
been kept down by previous harro wings and the soil having become 
packed into a firm seed bed and being moist and warm, the brome- 
grass should come up very quickly and evenly and will be able to 
keep ahead of the weeds, and a good stand ought to be the result in 
almost any part of the area during years of normal climatic conditions. 

FOUR-YEAR ROTATION (NO. 3). 



Field A, 40 Acres. 

1910. Corn. 

1911. Wheat, winter or spring. 

1912. Red clover. 

1913. Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. 

Field B, 40 Acres. 

1910. "Wheat, winter or spring. 

1911. Red clover. 

1912. Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. 

1913. Corn. 



Field C, 40 Acres. 

1910. Red clover. 

1911. Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. 

1912. Corn. 

1913. Wheat, winter or spring. 

Field D, 40 Acres. 

1910. Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. 

1911. Corn. 

1912. Wheat, winter or spring. 

1913. Red clover. 



In some parts of the area clover has been successfully grown, and it 
is believed that it might be very much more extensively grown than 
it is at present. As it is a nitrogen gatherer, it is more desirable for 
improving the condition of the soil than is brome-grass, and we 
would therefore recommend the modification of rotation No. 2 by 
making it a 4-year rotation, which would necessitate the dividing 
of the farm into four fields of 40 acres each, as shown in rotation 
No. 3. There would then be 40 acres in corn, 80 acres in small grain, 
and 40 acres in clover each year. The clover can be sown with the 
wheat at the rate of about 15 pounds per acre. If it proves imprac- 
ticable to raise clover with the wheat as a nurse crop, the rotation 
can be changed to a 5-year rotation, seeding the clover on thor- 
oughly prepared ground, as discussed for brome-grass in the 6-year 
rotation (No. 2). Flax might be raised on the clover sod, as sug- 
gested for brome-grass sod. 

187 



CONSERVATION OF ORGANIC MATTER. 



63 



FOUR-YEAR ROTATION (NO. 4). 



Field A, 40 Acres. 



Field C, 40 Acres. 



1910. Corn. 

1911. Wheat, winter or spring. 

1912. Winter rye turned under in spring. 

1913. Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. 



1910. Winter rye turned under in spring. 

1911. Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. 

1912. Corn. 

1913. Wheat, winter or spring. 



Field B, 40 Acres. 



Field D, 40 Acres. 



1910. Wheat, winter or spring. 

1911. Winter rye turned under in spring. 

1912. Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. 

1913. Corn. 



1910. Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. 



1911. Corn. 

1912. Wheat, winter or spring. 

1913. Winter rye turned under in spring. 



While we feel confident that brome-grass and red clover can be 
much more commonly grown throughout this area than at present, 
we recognize that there probably are localities within the area 
where neither of these crops can be successfully grown, and it is 
altogether likely that even in those localities where the crops can be 
successfully grown during favorable seasons there will be unfavor- 
able seasons when it will be impossible to get a catch of either of 
them. In order to provide for such emergencies we have included 
the following 4-year rotation, No. 4, in which we have substituted a 
crop of winter rye for the clover which occurred in rotation No. 3. 
The other crops in this rotation will not need further description, as 
they are to be treated the same as in the rotations described. 

The ground for the winter rye should be prepared by plowing it as 
soon after the wheat crop is removed as possible. It should then 
be thoroughly packed and harrowed and kept in good tilth and free 
from weeds until the proper time for seeding has arrived. The date 
of seeding, of course, will vary somewhat with the latitude. After 
the rye is seeded it will require no further attention until the following 
spring or early summer, when it is to be turned under. The date 
when this should be done will, of course, vary with the season, but 
experience has shown that the best results are obtained when the 
rye is turned under after it has attained nearly its full growth but 
while it is still young and succulent and has not become hard and 
woody. This stage will vary somewhat in the same locality on 
account of the difference in weather conditions from season to season, 
so that each farmer must use his own judgment in determining 
whether the grain has reached the proper stage for plowing under. 
As soon as it is plowed under, the ground should be thoroughly 
packed and harrowed in order to prevent the rye straw from drying 
out in the soil instead of rotting. After the rye has been turned 
under, the field should be treated like summer tillage for the remainder 
of the season until the following spring, provided a spring crop is to 
52345°— Bui. 187—10 5 



64 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 

be sown. If the field is to be sown to winter grain in the fall, the 
treatment should be the same as the summer tillage up to the time 
of seeding. 

If this rotation is adopted and the plowing under of the winter rye 
is carefully done and the after-culture is sufficiently thorough, much 
better results will undoubtedly be obtained than from the summer 
tillage without the growing of a crop for turning under. The great 
objection to summer tillage is the fact that it is very destructive to 
the organic matter or humus in the soil, while this rotation will pre- 
serve and even increase the organic matter in the soil. The cost of 
seeding the field to rye is not great, and the labor involved is no more 
than would be necessary for the summer tillage carried on as thor- 
oughly as it should be. 

FOUR-YEAR ROTATION (NO. 5). 



Field A, 40 Acres. 

1910. Corn. 

1911. Wheat, winter or spring. 

1912. Field peas or cowpeas turned under 

in spring. 

1913. Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. 

Field B, 40 Acres. 

1910. Wheat, winter or spring. 

1911. Field peas or cowpeas turned under 

in spring. 

1912. Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. 

1913. Corn. 



Field C, 40 Acres. 

1910. Field peas or cowpeas turned under 

in spring. 

1911. Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. 

1912. Corn. 

1913. Wheat, winter or spring. 

Field D, 40 Acres. 

1910. Oats, barley, emmer, or wheat. 

1911. Corn. 

1912. Wheat, winter or spring. 

1913. Field peas or cowpeas turned under 

in spring. 



Rotation No. 5 is exactly like rotation No. 4 except that field peas 
or cowpeas will be used in the place of the winter rye. As both of 
these crops have the power of gathering the free nitrogen from the 
air and converting it into forms in which it can be used by succeeding 
crops, they are preferable in this respect to winter rye. The prepa- 
ration of the land during the fall after the wheat has been removed 
should be the same as that recommended for fall plowing for other 
crops. In the spring the field peas or cowpeas should be sown as 
early as climatic conditions will permit. The time of seeding will, of 
course, depend upon the locality, and the rate of seeding should 
depend upon the fertility of the soil. As heavy a seeding should be 
given as the soil is capable of developing, as it is desirable, of course, 
to get as large an amount of growth for turning under as possible. 
Some very favorable results have been obtained by substituting sweet 
clover (Melilotus alba) for peas. When this is done, the sweet clover 
should be sown with the wheat crop and plowed under the next sea- 
son before any seeds have matured, as it becomes a very bad weed 
in some localities. 

187 



THE PRINCIPLES OF CROP ROTATION. 



65 



What has already been said concerning the stage of growth of the 
rye and also concerning the treatment of the field after plowing under 
the crop will apply equally well to either field peas, cowpeas, or sweet 
clover. 

THE PRINCIPLES OF CROP ROTATION. 

FACTORS INVOLVED. 

Crop rotation, with its concomitant features of farm organization, 
diversification of crops, and stock raising, is destined to become the 
most important problem in the agricultural development of the Great 
Plains. It is therefore worthy of the most careful study by all who 
are interested directly or indirectly in this development. It is one of 
the most complex and difficult of agricultural problems. The prin- 
cipal difficulties arise from the fact that the planning of a rotation 
is a long-time proposition, the laying out of plans reaching many 
years into the future, which makes it necessary to deal with factors 
which are constantly changing, both absolutely and relatively. Some 
of these changing factors are: The constantly varying absolute and 
relative prices of all the crops grown, of the live stock to which some 
of these crops must be fed, and of the products of this live stock; vari- 
able weather conditions; the attacks of diseases and insect enemies, 
where the same crop is grown too frequently on the same land; the 
varying cost of labor; the uncertainty and, in some instances, the 
utter impracticability of raising perennial crops for meadow or pas- 
ture; and many others which will readily occur to the thoughtful 
student of the problem. 

In no field of scientific investigation or of the practical application 
of scientific principles is dogmatism more utterly out of place than 
in the study or practice of crop rotation. The factors of the prob- 
lem are so local and individual in their nature, so closely associated 
with the local characteristics of each farm and its environment and 
the individual tastes, abilities, and limitations of each farmer, that 
no definite and specific directions can be given for establishing a 
rotation for any farm until all the factors are carefully studied. 
There are, however, certain general principles which are fairly well 
established. There are others which are strongly indicated by the 
investigations which have been described, but which may be either 
firmly established or disproved by a continuation of these investiga- 
tions. Among the established principles may be mentioned the 
following : 

(1) All crops may be roughly classified under three heads: Exhaus- 
tive, intermediate, and restorative. These terms must not be taken 
too literally. All crops which are harvested and removed from the 
land take from it more or less plant food and might therefore be said 
to be " exhaustive.-' No crop " restores'' to the soil any considera- 

187 



66 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 

ble amount of plant food unless it is plowed under for green manure 
or is allowed to decay upon the surface. But, nevertheless, certain 
crops leave the land in poorer condition for a subsequent crop of 
some particular kind than it was before they were raised. These 
are designated as " exhaustive" crops, and include wheat, oats, bar- 
ley, rye, and millet. Their ill effects upon subsequent crops may be 
due to a reduction of the available plant food ; to an increased growth 
of weeds, fungi, or injurious insects ; to a change in the physical con- 
dition of the soil, particularly its water content; or to a reduction in 
the quantity or activity of beneficial lower organisms. " Restora- 
tive" crops have the opposite effect. They leave the soil in better 
condition for certain crops than it was before. Among restorative 
crops may be mentioned corn, potatoes, beans, peas, clover, alfalfa, 
most cultivated crops grown in the Great Plains, and perennial grasses 
grown for meadow or pasture. " Intermediate " crops are those that 
have, in some respects, a beneficial effect upon certain crops which 
follow them, while in other respects their influence is detrimental. 
The sorghums, cane, milo, and kafir belong to this class. Their ben- 
eficial effects are due to the fact that, like all cultivated crops, they 
reduce the amount of weeds in subsequent crops; their detrimental 
effects upon subsequent crops seem to be due to the fact that they 
are able to exhaust the soil moisture to a greater extent than any 
other crops commonly grown in the Great Plains. 

(2) In addition to and in a certain measure independent of the 
above-mentioned classification is the problem of crop sequence, or 
the relations which two crops bear to each other independent of any 
apparent difference in the conditions of the soil brought about by 
their growth. For instance, two crops may be equally exhaustive, 
but when grown consecutively, better results will be obtained if they 
are grown in one sequence than when the opposite sequence is fol- 
lowed. Oats following wheat generally give better results than 
wheat following oats. Or, again, a restorative crop may have a 
more beneficial effect upon some certain exhaustive crop which fol- 
lows it than it has upon some other equally exhaustive crop. Wheat 
generally responds more readily to the effects of a corn crop than 
does oats. 

(3) The effects of the preparation of the land — time and depth of 
plowing, disking instead of plowing, the amount of harrowing and 
packing of the seed bed, etc. — depend not only upon the crop for 
which preparation is being made, but also upon the crop grown the 
preceding year and the previous soil treatment. 

(4) The selection of the varieties or strains of the crops grown 
which are best adapted to the particular locality and to the rotation 
planned and the determination of the quantity of seed to use and of 
the method and time of seeding are also of great importance. 

187 



CONCLUSIONS FROM EXPERIMENTS. 



67 



(5) The keeping of as much live stock of the most profitable kind 
and the feeding out upon the farm and the returning of the manure 
to the land of as large a proportion of the crops raised as is consistent 
with immediate profits is also of great importance. 

In planning a rotation a recognition of the above-mentioned 
principles will require that the following rules be observed: 

RULES TO BE OBSERVED IN PLANNING ROTATIONS. 

(1) Select as large a number of restorative and as small a number 
of exhaustive crops as is consistent with the general plan of farm 
organization. 

(2) Arrange the crops in the rotation so as to have the exhaustive 
and restorative crops alternate as far as possible. 

(3) Observe the proper sequence, both between restorative and 
exhaustive crops and between two exhaustive crops where it becomes 
necessary to grow two such crops consecutively. 

(4) Select the best varieties or strains and use the quantity of seed 
and the method and time of seeding best adapted to the locality. 

(5) Plow and prepare the seed bed at the time and in the manner 
best adapted to the crop, the soil, the climate, and the most econom- 
ical distribution of labor through the year. 

(6) Obtain all available information concerning yields, cost, and 
prices of crops grown in the locality, and plan to grow those crops that 
will yield the largest net return per acre with the least depletion of 
soil fertility. 

(7) Feed as large a proportion as possible of the crops grown and 
return the manure to the field. 

(8) Raise the kind of live stock yielding the largest net profit and 
best adapted to the particular farm and locality and to the preferences 
of the farmer who handles it. Very few farmers ever make a success 
of raising any kind of live stock the care of which they do not enjoy. 

(9) Use perennial grasses, alfalfa, or clover in the rotation wherever 
practicable, and where it is impracticable to do so raise rye, peas, or 
sweet clover for green manuring to maintain the humus in the soil. 

It is believed that the tentative conclusions drawn from the results 
of the investigations described in this bulletin will materially aid in 
the establishment of rotations which will meet the above-mentioned 
requirements. 

CONCLUSIONS FROM EXPERIMENTS. 

(1) The practice of summer tillage and alternate cropping has not 
given results to warrant its recommendation as a safe basis for a 
permanent agriculture in the Great Plains area, where spring-grown 
wheat, oats, and barley are the staple crops. It may, however, be 
resorted to as a safeguard or temporary expedient to guard against 

187 



68 CULTIVATION METHODS AND [ROTATIONS FOR GEEAT PLAINS. 

the total loss of the crop where extreme drought is anticipated, but 
it can not be depended upon to produce as profitable crops under 
average normal conditions as may be produced by other methods. 
(See Tables I, II, III, XXI, and XXIII.) 

(2) Continuous cropping with moisture-conservation methods, in- 
volving early fall plowing and thorough fall, winter, and spring tillage 
and harrowing after the grain is up in the spring, has not given aver- 
age results to warrant its practice. There have, however, been a few 
exceptions to this rule. (See Tables I, II, III, XXI, and XXIII.) 

(3) A simple 3-year rotation of corn, wheat, and oats has given 
more profitable returns than any method of continuous cropping or 
alternate cropping and summer tillage in fourteen out of seventeen 
tests. In the three instances where continuous cropping gave better 
returns the difference was so small as to be practically negligible. 
(See Table XXIII and the preceding tables, of which it is a summary.) 

(4) The two 3-year rotations giving the best average results are 
No. 1 (wheat on disked corn ground, oats on fall plowing, corn on fall 
plowing) and No. 6 (barley on disked corn ground, oats on fall plowing, 
corn on fall plowing) . These two rotations are identical except that 
barley has been substituted for wheat in No. 6. One or the other 
of these two rotations gave the best results at nine of the eighteen 
tests: Dickinson, N. Dak., 1909, Edgeley, N. Dak., 1907 and 1908, 
Highmore, S. Dak., 1907, Bellefourche, S. Dak., 1909, North Platte, 
Nebr., 1908, Akron, Colo., 1909, Hays, Kans., 1908, and Amarillo, 
Tex., 1908. (See Table XXIII.) 

(5) Rotation No. 7, oats, barley, corn, all on spring-plowed land, 
gave the best results at three tests: Highmore, S. Dak., 1908, North 
Platte, Nebr., 1909, and Garden City, Kans., 1909. (See Table 
XXIII.) 

(6) Rotation No. 3 (wheat, oats, corn, all on fall plowing) and 
rotation No. 4 (oats on disked corn ground, wheat on fall plowing, 
corn onfall plowing) each gave the best results at two tests: Edgeley, 
N. Dak., 1909, and Amarillo, Tex., 1909, for No. 3; Judith Basin, 
Mont., 1909, and North Platte, Nebr., 1907, for No. 4. (See Table 
XXIII.) 

(7) Rotation No. 2 (wheat, oats, corn, all on spring plowing) gave 
the best results at only one test, Dickinson, N. Dak., 1908. (See 
Table XXIII.) 

(8) Rotation No. 9 (oats, wheat, corn, all on spring plowing) failed 
to give the best results at any test and averaged 42 cents per acre 
poorer than continuous cropping. (See Table XXIII.) 

(9) Summer tillage had been introduced in rotations Nos. 5 and 8 
in place of corn. These two rotations are otherwise identical with 
rotations Nos. 1 and 4, respectively. A comparison of these two pairs 

187 



CONCLUSIONS FROM EXPERIMENTS. 



69 



of rotations shows that in seven out of nineteen tests the corn rota- 
tions (1 and 4) produced better crops of wheat and oats than the 
sunimer-tilled rotations (5 and 8). In ten of the twelve tests where 
the yields of wheat and oats were better on summer-tilled rotations 
than on corn rotations the yield of corn was sufficient to more than 
offset this difference. 

The two tests where the corn crop did not equal in value the gain 
from summer tillage were Dalhart and Amarillo, Tex. In these tests 
the crops of wheat and oats averaged only $1.91 and $4.49 per acre, 
respectively. 

The average net gain of the com rotations over the summer-tilled 
rotations for all tests was $4.08 per acre and the results were in 
favor of the corn rotations in seventeen out of nineteen tests. (See 
Table XXIV.) 

(10) Disking has given better average results than plowing corn 
stubble as a preparation for wheat in eleven out of eighteen tests, 
the net results being 36 cents per acre in favor of disking. (See 
Table XXV.) 

(11) Fall plowing has given slightly better net results than spring 
plowing. Local conditions of soil and climate influence the results 
so profoundly that no general conclusions can be drawn. The 
natural character of the soil, its physical condition at the time of 
plowing, its liability to blowing during the fall and winter, and the 
holding of snow by stubble during the winter must all be considered 
for each farm and each season in determining the best time of plow- 
ing. The most economical distribution of labor through the year is 
also an important practical consideration. (See Tables XXVI and 
XXVII.) 

(12) When summer tillage is introduced in a rotation containing 
both wheat and oats, slightly better average results have been ob- 
tained when oats follow summer tillage and wheat follows oats than 
where wheat follows summer tillage and oats follow wheat. Local 
conditions of soil and climate influence results in this respect to such 
an extent that no general rule can be made to apply to all stations. 
Certain stations give markedly better results from one sequence, 
while others give much better results from the opposite sequence. 
(See Table XXVIII.) 

(13) Where corn, wheat, and oats have been grown in a 3-year 
rotation, better results have been obtained in twenty-four out of 
thirty-five tests by following wheat after corn and corn after oats. 
At Judith Basin, Mont., Highmore and Bellefourche, S. Dak., North 
Platte, Nebr., and Amarillo, Tex., better results have been obtained 
from the opposite sequence. The greatest advantage of the corn- 
wheat-oats sequence was at Edgeley, N. Dak., in 1907, when it 

187 



70 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOB GREAT PLAINS. 

amounted to $6.32 per acre. This was closely followed by North 
Platte, Nebr., in 1909, and Dickinson, N. Dak., in 1908, where it 
amounted to $5.24 and $5.17, respectively. Highmore and Belle- 
fourche, S. Dak., are the only stations showing markedly better 
results from the corn-oats- wheat sequence. The effects of the 
sequence seem to be less marked where the corn stubble is disked and 
the other plats fall plowed than where all plats are spring plowed. 
(See Tables XXIX and XXX.) 

(14) Wherever a perennial meadow grass, like brome-grass (Bro- . 
mus inermis), can be profitably grown it should enter into the 
rotation, which should be not less than five years in duration. The 
following has given good results: Corn; wheat, winter or spring; 
brome-grass, two or three years; oats, barley, emmer, or wheat (win- 
ter or spring). 

Flax may be sown on the brome-grass sod as a catch crop after the 
hay crop has been harvested. Where this practice is adopted it will 
of course be impracticable to follow the flax with fall-sown grain, 
but spring-sown grain can be substituted. 

(15) Where it is impracticable to secure a catch of brome-grass 
or other meadow grass sown with the wheat crop, the grass should 
be sown separately on carefully prepared ground in May or June. 
This will require a rotation of at least six years' duration. There 
will be one year (the year of seeding to grass) during which one field 
will yield no crop return, but if flax is grown on the meadow sod 
after the hay has been cut two crops will be obtained from this field 
in one year. In this way as many crops will be grown as there are 
fields in the rotation system. 

(16) Wherever alfalfa can be profitably grown it may be substi- 
tuted in whole or in part for the brome-grass without interfering 
with the general plan of the rotation. 

(17) Wherever clover can be profitably grown it can be sown with 
the brome-grass without changing the general plan of the rotation; 
or it can be sown separately, either with the wheat in a 4-year rota- 
tion or without a nurse crop in a 5-year rotation. 

(18) Where neither perennial grasses nor perennial legumes or 
clovers can be profitably raised, rye, peas, or sweet clover should be 
raised every fourth year and plowed under for green manure. Rye 
has so far given better average results than peas, sweet clover, or 
summer tillage. This seeming superiority may be due to the fact 
that the quantity of organic matter is greater in the rye and that it 
can be turned under earlier in the season, thus allowing the rains of 
June and July to be conserved in the soil instead of being consumed 
in the growth of the green-manure crop. It seems quite probable 
that the greater quantity of nitrogen gathered and restored to the 

187 



CONCLUSIONS FROM EXPERIMENTS. 



71 



soil by the legumes will in time overcome the advantage which the 
rye now seems to have. 

(19) Wherever winter wheat can be safely grown it should con- 
stitute a considerable portion of the small-grain crop. The danger 
from winterkilling tends to make it a more precarious crop than 
spring-sown grains. On the other hand, its earlier maturity, which 
frequently allows it to escape the droughts of early summer, and its 
higher yield when conditions are favorable give it a marked advan- 
tage over spring wheat. It should be raised in rotation with other 
crops. 

When so raised, summer tillage will not usually be necessary or 
advisable. Under certain circumstances it may be found desirable 
to summer till, as winter wheat certainly responds much more readily 
to summer tillage than do spring-sown crops. Summer tillage even 
for winter wheat can not be recommended as a general or frequent 
practice in the Great Plains area. It is believed that the plowing 
under of a green-manure crop early in the season and proper treat- 
ment of the soil from that time until seeded to winter grain will 
usually give as good immediate results as summer tillage. There 
can be little doubt as to the advantage of green manuring over sum- 
mer tillage in its ultimate effect upon the soil. 

The conclusions concerning summer tillage reached from our 
investigations throughout the Great Plains area are in general 
accord with those of Mr. W. P. Snyder, superintendent of the Nebraska 
Agricultural Experiment Substation, at North Platte, Nebr., and 
of Mr. W. W. Burr, assistant in dry-land agriculture, detailed to 
that substation from the Bureau of Plant Industry. We therefore 
quote from an article prepared by them and published in Bulletin 
No. 109 of the Agricultural Experiment Station of Nebraska, as 
follows : 

Ultimate effect of summer tilling. — Frequent summer tilling may be more or less 
detrimental to our land. The changes which break down the humus in the soil go on 
very rapidly under the conditions afforded by summer tilling and must exhaust the 
entire supply more quickly than where some method is practiced which does not 
furnish so good conditions for the destruction of humus in the soil. 

We feel safe in recommending summer tillage for small grain, especially winter 
wheat, but advise that a rotation be followed which will keep up the organic matter in 
the soil and conserve its fertility. Such a rotation will probably use summer tillage 
on the same field only once during a series of years, and will have a grass, legume, or 
some green manuring crop which will put back into the soil the organic material taken 
from it. Where sufficient barnyard manure is to be had, an application of it once during 
the rotation will probably keep up the humus and conserve the fertility of the soil. 
Where manure is used it should be applied as evenly as possible on the land, and 
disked to mix it with the rurface. It should be applied at a time and in such a manner 
as to be a benefit rather than a harm to the succeeding crop. 

From our experience we can not lay down a definite system of rotation for all con- 
ditions. The rotations must be worked out to suit the farm where they are to be 
187 



72 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOE GREAT PLAINS. 



practiced. A rotation that seems well adapted to our conditions is as follows: Summer 
tillage, winter wheat, corn, spring grain, cane. Summer till and sow winter wheat; 
disk and fall plow the wheat stubble for corn the next year; disk the corn stubble for a 
spring grain — oats, wheat, or barley; apply manure during the winter, disk in spring 
and plow for cane, which crop completes the rotation. To practice this rotation a farm 
should have at least five fields. This 5-year rotation gives winter wheat on summer- 
tilled land to be sold as a cash crop, corn and spring grain to be fed or sold according 
to conditions, and cane for forage. If the forage and grains are fed, there will be 
enough manure to apply in the rotation, covering one-fifth of the land each year. 

In exclusive grain farming, which is a hazardous proposition at best, some crop 
must be turned under to keep up the fertility. This is equally true whether summer 
tilling be practiced or not. We have this year obtained very good results from green 
manuring with rye and with cowpeas. The yield was not up to that on summer- 
tilled land, but was nearly as large. In each case the crop was turned under and the 
land kept well tilled for the balance of the summer, and the land sown to grain in the 
spring. If this can be done with a reasonable certainty of success, it may be more 
profitable than summer tilling. It gives much the same condition of the land as 
summer tillage and at the same time enriches the soil by the addition of humus. In 
very dry years it is doubtful if this will give as high yields as summer tilling, since there 
will be hardly enough water to rot the crop turned under and give a good seed bed in 
which to sow the next crop. 

We feel that the practice of summer tilling is and can be kept profitable by system- 
atic rotation of crops in which summer tilling shall be used only occasionally. If used 
without care it may prove very detrimental. If used judiciously it will tend to free 
the fields from weeds and guard against total crop failure and to greatly extend the 
winter wheat growing area. 

PRECIPITATION RECORDS. 

Table XXXI presents the precipitation records by months for all 
stations reported upon in this bulletin, not only for the year during 
which the tests were conducted, but also for the year immediately 
preceding. A study of this table will give a general idea of the 
climatic conditions prevailing at each station for each year of the 
tests. It also furnishes some information concerning the quantity 
of water which may have been stored in the soil from the previous 
year. It should, however, be constantly borne in mind that the 
character of the rains and their distribution through the month 
greatly influence their availability to the crop. A large part of 
torrential rains may be lost by run-off. On the other hand, when 
the rains are less than one-half inch a day they may be almost entirely 
lost by evaporation. Again, there may be a heavy rainfall during 
the early part of the month, followed by a severe drought extending 
through the remainder of that month and the major part of the fol- 
lowing month, with heavy precipitation during the later days. 
Under such circumstances the monthly precipitation for both months 
may seem to be ample, although crops may have suffered severely. 
This all goes to show that neither the annual nor the monthly precipi- 
tation as here given furnishes a safe basis for judging the weather 

187 



PRECIPITATION RECORDS. 



73 



conditions in their relation to crop production. These considera- 
tions apply more aptly to cases where the precipitation seems to be 
sufficient. If the monthly precipitation shows a marked deficit 
during the growing season, it is reasonably safe to assume that the 
crop suffered from drought. 

An examination of the accompanying table shows that when the 
whole record is considered there was an excess above normal pre- 
cipitation in 16 out of 30 instances and a deficit in 10 instances. 
There were 4 instances where the record was incomplete. 

When we consider only the 19 cases where the observations were 
made during the same year that these tests were made, we find that 
there was an excess in 11 instances, a deficit in 6, and incomplete 
records in 2. 

Considering only the observations made at the 1 1 stations the year 
previous to the tests reported, we find that in 5 instances there was 
an excess, in 4 a deficit, and in 2 incomplete records. 

It is apparent, therefore, that the average annual precipitation 
throughout the area was somewhat above normal, both during the 
years reported in these tests and for the year previous to the first 
reported tests. A detailed study of Table XXXI in connection with 
the yields reported in the respective tests may assist the reader in 
the interpretation of results. For a full discussion of these relations, 
however, it would be necessary to have the daily as well as the 
monthly precipitation, for the reasons already stated. These 
records are, of course, on file in the Office of Dry-Land Agriculture 
Investigations, but it has not seemed advisable to enter into a dis- 
cussion of this phase of the subject in this bulletin. It may, how- 
ever, be taken up in some future publication. 

187 



74 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOE GREAT PLAINS. 



Table XXXI. — Precipitation records for all dry-land agriculture stations in the Great 
Plains area, beginning one year prior to the years reported upon in this bulletin. 



Station. 



Year. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


1908 


0.55 


0.49 


0.98 


0.61 


7. 31 


2.45 


0.20 


1.18 


1909 


.90 


.08 


1.22 


.95 


1.84 


6.66 


4.97 


1.28 


1907 


.80 


.14 


.39 


.30 


1.36 


2.52 


4. 82 


1.89 


1908 


.28 


.73 


1.42 


1.27 


3.50 


4. 30 


1.41 


1.41 


1909 


.27 


.52 


.25 


.51 


5. 78 


3.28 


1.89 


5.54 


1906 


.13 


T. 


.16 


1.58 


5.59 


3.69 


3.17 


1.56 


1907 


.42 


.06 


.21 


.35 


1.89 


1.73 


2.77 


1.21 


1908 


.04 


.65 


1.45 


1.26 


3.53 


3.26 


1.19 


1.69 


1909 


.12 


.25 


T. 


.70 


4.01 


2.80 


3.04 


1.73 


1905 


.60 


T. 


.60 


1.39 


5.23 


5.64 


5.54 


3.56 


1906 


.30 


.40 


.80 


2. 30 


5.00 


2.50 


1.19 


6.74 


1907 


1.00 


.40 


1.10 


.68 


5.11 


1.62 


3.64 


.28 


1908 


.10 


.93 


.80 


1.55 


2.68 


5.78 


2. 49 


3.53 


1908 


( c ) 


( c ) 


( c ) 


d 1.09 


4. 09 


1.47 


1.26 


.62 


1909 


.17 


.23 


.19 


.77 


3.87 


5.59 


2.58 


.55 


1906 


.61 


.80 


2.22 


2.89 


2.82 


.68 


3.14 


5.56 


1907 


.39 


.51 


.10 


.43 


2.40 


2.69 


6.79 


2.14 


1908 


.16 


.78 


.20 


.64 


3.95 


5.07 


3.17 


1.57 


1909 


.29 


1.61 


.98 


.72 


2.32 


5.46 


5.21 


1.24 


1908 


.00 


.34 


T. 


1.70 


3.57 


6 2.30 


6 2.42 


61.47 


1909 


T. 


1.38 


3.06 


6.40 


&1.76 


6 3.43 


6 4. 61 


6 3.77 


1907 


.64 


.22 


.85 


.60 


.83 


4.97 


9.15 


3.12 


1908 


T. 


.92 


T. 


2.18 


3.06 


6.02 


2.90 


5.86 


1908 


.08 


.67 


.18 


.53 


1.29 


4.95 


1.75 


2.18 


1909 


.30 


.35 


2.15 


.20 


3.06 


3.48 


5. 22 


.81 


1908 


T. 




(<0 


2.28 


.53 


2.83 


3.89 


1.08 


1909 


T. 


.28 


.71 


.17 


1.64 


5.10 


1.27 


.65 


1907 


1.11 


.24 


.02 


1.25 


.99 


1.97 


1.49. 


6.20 


1908 


.26 


.72 


T. 


1.90 


3.55 


1.73 


5.40 


2.75 


1909 


.07 


.28 


1.28 


.50 


1.08 


4. 72 


3.63 


.87 



Judith Basin, Mont.a. 

Do 

Dickinson, N. Dak. . . 

Do 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak.6 

Do 

North Platte, Nebr... 

Do 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Do 

Hays, Kans 

Do 

Garden City, Kans. . . 

Do 

Dalhart, Tex 

Do 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 

Do 



Station. 



Year. 



Sept. 



Oct. 



Nov. 



Dec. 



Annual. 



Aver- 
age 
normal. 



Above 
normal 



Below 
normal. 



Judith Basin, Mont.a. 

Do.. 

Dickinson, N. Dak. . . 

Do 

Do 

Edgeley, N. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Do 

Highmore, S. Dak 

Do 

Do 

Do 

Bellefourche, S. Dak.6 

Do 

North Platte, Nebr... 

Do 

Do 

Do 

Akron, Colo 

Do 

Hays, Kans 

Do 

Garden City, Kans. . . 

Do 

Dalhart, Tex 

Do 

Amarillo, Tex 

Do 

Do 



1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1908 
1909 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1908 
1909 
1908 
1909 
1907 
1908 
1909 



1.41 
4.27 
1.11 
1.67 

.83 
1.45 
2.47 
1.81 

.89 

.56 
2.81 
1.04 

.62 

.52 
1.07 
4.25 
2.91 

.24 

.77 
6.05 
6 2.16 
1.75 

.81 
1.04 
1.20 

.39 
2.12 

.91 
1.83 
2.19 



6.27 
.49 
.10 
2.47 
1.08 
.93 
.41 
1.34 
.42 
1.95 
2. 41 
1.96 
2.19 
1.08 
( c ) 
3.05 
.14 
3.39 
.20 
3.20 
.76 
1.40 
1.76 
1.07 
.75 
.29 
2.60 
1.79 
.40 
1.18 



T. 

0.30 
.02 
.78 
.29 

1.05 

T. 
.63 
.34 

1.29 
.36 
.05 

1.39 
.20 

( c ) 

1.01 
.31 



2.24 
2.00 
.48 
.11 
1.79 
2.72 
3.77 
.93 
1.21 
.66 
.51 
3.25 



0.22 

1.20 
.22 
.24 

1.02 
.65 

T. 
.20 
.84 

T. 
.40 
.40 
.31 

1.02 

(O 

.96 
.80 
.20 

1.37 

T. 
.55 

1.76 
.03 
.23 
.70 
.06 
.15 

1.46 
.00 
.54 



21 


67 


25 


63 


13 


67 


19 


48 


21 


26 


19 


9(5 


11 


52 


17 


05 


15 


14 


26 


3d 


25 


21 


17 


28 


22 


37 



15. 25 



6.42 
8.18 



0.24 



14.95 



4.53 
6.31 
.43 



19.53 



8.01 
2.48 
4.39 



10.42 
8.45 



17.37 



5.00 



27.99 
19.61 
19.96 
22.41 
17.05 
22.36 
25. 40 
25.33 
16.69 
22.99 



9.72 
1.02 
1.08 
3. 53 



19.06 
19.06 



2.01 



23.48 

'is." 77" 



3.30 
2.86 
1.85 



2.08 



3.61 



15.99 
18.09 
19.05 
19.59 



22.55 



4.46 
3.50 
2.96 



a Taken from Weather Report for Utica. 

6 From observations taken at the agricultural experiment stations and not from Weather Bureau reports, 
c No report. 

d No record by Weather Bureau observer 
T.= trace. 

187 



INDEX. 



Page. 

Agriculture, dry-land, importance of crop rotation, studies and experiments.. 8-12, 

67-72 

investigations, collection and reliability of data 12, 13 

field work, scientific staff 12 

Barley, average price per bushel in various States, 1900-1909 25, 26 

continuous cropping, average yield and value per acre, 1900-1909 27, 28 

comparison with alternate cropping and summer 

tillage, experiments 14-20 

crop-rotation tests, average yield and value per acre, 1906-1909 32-33 

rotations, comparison 21-40 

with continuous cropping, value per acre. 39, 40-45 
yield per acre. 39,40-45 

cropping systems, comparison of yields per acre 17, 18, 26, 27 

tillage methods, average production per acre, studies 8-12, 14-20, 67-72 

Burr, W. W., and Snyder, W. P., article on summer tillage 71-72 

Conservation, moisture. See Moisture, conservation. 

organic matter in soil, description of rotations 55-65 

Corn, average price per bushel in various States, 1900-1909 25-26 

crop-rotation tests, average yield and value per acre, 1906-1909 28-34 

rotations, comparison 20-40 

cultivation, study of methods 58-59 

fodder, cost and value 47 

rotation tests, average yield and value per acre, 1906-1909 28-34 

stubble, disked, comparison with summer tillage as preparation for wheat 

or oat crops 45-48 

returns from crop 45-48 

disking, comparison with plowing, for spring wheat 49 

tillage methods, average production per acre, studies 8-12, 67-72 

Cropping, alternate, and summer tillage, comparison with continuous cropping, 

experiments 14-20 

continuous, and summer tillage, arid regions, conclusions 18-20 

comparison with alternate cropping and summer tillage, 

experiments 14-20 

crop rotation 20-40 

methods, various grains, average yield and value per acre, 1900-1909. 26-27 
States, average yield and value per acre, 1900-1909. 26-27 

various systems, wheat, oats, and barley, experiments 14-20 

Crops, classification 65-67 

rotation, and cultivation methods, Great Plains area, purpose of inves- 
tigations 7-8 

results of investi- 
gations 8-12 

sufficiency of the 
data submitted. 12-13 



187 75 



76 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOR GREAT PLAINS. 



Page. 

Crops, rotation, basis of comparison for crops grown 24-40 

comparison of fall and spring plowing 50-51 

sequences 52-54 

systems with tillage methods, studies and experi- 
ments 8-12,67-72 

with continuous cropping .-. 20-40 

yield and value per acre 

of various grains 34-45 

dry-land agriculture, importance 10 

experiments, conclusions 67-72 

explanatory notes 23-24 

factors involved 65-67 

Great Plains area, necessity and value 10 

planning, rules 67 

principles . 65-67 

system, difficulties of establishment 9-10 

tests of various grains, average yield and value per acre, 1906- 

1909 28-34 

value in conservation of organic matter in soil 55-65 

sequences, comparison 52-54 

Cultivation, corn. See Corn, cultivation. 

methods, and crop rotations, Great Plains area, purpose of investi- 
gations 7-8 

results of investi- 
gations 8-12 

sufficiency of the 
data submitted . 12-13 

wheat. See Wheat, cultivation. 

Disking, corn stubble, comparison with plowing, for spring wheat 49 

Dry-land agriculture. See Agriculture, dry-land. 

Farming, one-crop, various systems, test of merits 14-20 

Fodder, corn. See Corn, fodder. 

Grain. See Barley, Corn, Oats, and Wheat. 

Great Plains area, continuous cropping, comparison with alternate cropping and 

summer tillage 14-20 

cultivation methods and crop rotations, purpose of investi- 
gations 7-8 

results of investiga- 
tions 8-12 

sufficiency of the 
data submitted . . 12-13 

precipitation, 1904-1909, by months 72-74 

Hay, cost and value 47 

Introduction to bulletin 7 

Kansas, cropping methods, various grains, average yield and value per acre, 

1900-1909 26-27 

various grains, average price per bushel, 1900-1909 25-26 

Matter, organic, in the soil, conservation, rotations 55-65 

Moisture, conservation, arid regions, conditions, value, etc 19-20 

Nebraska, cropping methods, various grains, average yield and value per acre, 

1900-1909 26-27 

various grains, average price per bushel, 1900-1909 25-26 

187 



INDEX. 



77 



Page. 

North Dakota, cropping methods, various grains, average yield and value per 

acre, 1900-1909 26-27 

various grains, average price per bushel, 1900-1909 25-26 

Oats, average price per bushel in various States, 1900-1909 .' 25-26 

comparison of disked corn stubble with summer tillage as preparation for 

crop 45-48 

average value per 
acre 45-48 

continuous cropping, average yield and value per acre, 1900-1909 27-28 

comparison -with alternate cropping and summer 

tillage, experiments 14-20 

crop-rotation tests, average yield and value per acre, 1906-1909 28-34 

rotations, comparison 20-40 

with continuous cropping, value per acre ... 38, 40-45 
yield per acre ... 37, 40-45 

cropping systems, comparison of yields per acre 17, 18 

relation, to summer tillage in three-year rotation 51-52 

tillage methods, average production per acre, studies 8-12, 67-72 

various cropping methods, average yield and value per acre, 1900-1909 . . 26-27 
wheat, and corn a less desirable sequence on spring plowing than wheat, 

oats, and corn . 52-54 

One-crop farming. See Farming, one-crop. 
Organic matter. See Matter, organic. 

Plowing, corn stubble, comparison with disking, for spring wheat 49 

deep, comparison with shallow plowing 20 

fall, comparison with spring plowing 50-51 

shallow, comparison with deep plowing 20 

spring, comparison with fall plowing 50-51 

Precipitation, Great Plains area, record by months, 1904-1909 72-74 

Rainfall. See Precipitation. 

Rotation, crops. See Crops, rotation. 

South Dakota, cropping methods, various grains, average yield and value per 

acre, 1900-1909 26-27 

various grains, average price per bushel, 1900-1909 25-26. 

Snyder, W. P., and Burr, W. W., article on summer tillage 71-72 

Soil, conservation of organic matter, description of rotations 55-65 

Stubble, corn. See Corn, stubble. 

Tillage, methods, comparison with crop-rotation systems, studies and experi- 
ments 8-12,67-72 

definition of terms 15 

Great Plains area, effect of local conditions, study 9-10, 27, 65 

various grains, average production per acre, studies 8-12, 67-72 

summer, and continuous cropping arid regions, conclusions 18-20 

article by W. P. Snyder and W. W. Burr 71-72 

comparison with continuous cropping and alternate cropping, 

experiments 14-20 

disked corn stubble as preparation for wheat 

or oat crops 45^8 

experiments, conclusions 67-72 

relation of wheat and oats in three-year rotation 51-52 

responsibility for increase of crop yield in arid regions, study. . 13- 

187 



78 CULTIVATION METHODS AND ROTATIONS FOE GREAT PLAINS. 



Page. 

Wheat, average price per bushel in various States, 1900-1909 25-26 

comparison of disked corn stubble with summer tillage as preparation for 

crop 45-48 

average value per 
acre 45-48 

continuous cropping, average yield and value per acre, 1900-1909 27-28 

comparison with alternate cropping and summer 

tillage, experiments 14-20 

crop-rotation tests, average yield and value per acre, 1906-1909 28-34 

rotations, comparison with continuous cropping, value per acre. 36, 40-45 

yield per acre. 35, 40-45 

cultivation, study of methods 59 

oats, and corn a better sequence on spring plowing than oats, wheat, and 

corn 52-54 

relation to summer tillage in three-year rotation 51-52 

spring, comparison of disking with plowing corn stubble for crop 49 

spring, crop rotations, comparisons 20-40 

cropping systems, comparison of yields per acre 16, 18 

tillage methods, average production per acre 8-12, 67-72 

various cropping methods, average yield and value per acre, 1900-1909. . 26-27 
187 

o 



